老娘 (lǎo niáng) — one's mother (often used by the speaker referring to their own mother; also grandmother in some dialects); traditional midwife (historical/regional usage); self-address of a middle-aged or older woman (assertive, sometimes combative tone)

Definition

Literally 'old mother', but in speech 老娘 is usually a brash, combative self-reference by a middle-aged or older woman ('I, your old lady!'). It is NOT a polite way to talk about one's own mother — use 妈妈 for that.

noun
one's mother (often used by the speaker referring to their own mother; also grandmother in some dialects)traditional midwife (historical/regional usage)self-address of a middle-aged or older woman (assertive, sometimes combative tone)

Examples

  • 老娘
    Wǒ lǎo niáng jīn nián qī shí duō le, shēn tǐ hái bú cuò.
    My mother is over seventy this year and still in good health.
  • 老娘
    lǎo niáng Huó le dà bàn bèi zi, shén me méi jiàn guò?
    I've lived most of my life — what haven't I seen?
  • 老娘
    Yǐ qián cūn lǐ shēng hái zi dōu kào jiē shēng lǎo niáng.
    Back then, having a baby in the village depended on the midwife.

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