阿婆 (ā pó) — (dialectal) grandmother; husband's mother; mother-in-law; respectful address for an elderly woman

Definition

阿婆 is a colloquial, southern/dialectal term for 'grandma' or, in some regions, one's mother-in-law. It also serves as a friendly address to any elderly woman — softer and more regional than the standard 奶奶.

noun
(dialectal) grandmotherhusband's mothermother-in-lawrespectful address for an elderly woman
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 阿婆，？
    ā pó, Nín shēn tǐ hǎo ma?
    Ma'am, how are you feeling?
  • ，阿婆。
    Xiǎo de shí hou, ā pó jīng cháng gěi wǒ jiǎng gù shi.
    When I was little, Grandma often told me stories.
  • 阿婆。
    Tā de ā pó duì tā hěn hǎo.
    Her mother-in-law treats her very well.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

阿āfamiliar kinship
婆pógrandmother; old woman

阿 gives a familiar tone to 婆, meaning grandmother or old woman.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阜阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
可
可kě阿ā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The part 阜 points to a mound, and 可 gives the pronunciation; 阿 originally meant a big mound.

Open 阿 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
波
波bō婆pó
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

婆 pairs 女 (woman) with 波, which gives the sound. The 女 part shows the character is about a woman.

Open 婆 →

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