n.
mother; mom
妈妈
mother; mom
The affectionate universal word for mother in daily life, spoken with a soft neutral second tone (māma).
Common Usage & Traps
- 妈妈 — mom (direct address)
- 我妈妈 — my mom (everyday speech)
- 我的妈妈 — my mom (explicit or written)
- 爸爸妈妈 — mom and dad; parents
- 爸爸的妈妈 — dad's mom; paternal grandma
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爸爸妈妈爸爸的妈妈For 'dad's mom', add 的. Without 的, 爸爸妈妈 normally means 'mom and dad'.
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妈妈我我妈妈For possession, the owner comes first. 妈妈我 is not a possessive phrase; as a call, it needs a comma and a different meaning.
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妈妈 (māmā)妈妈 (māma)The second syllable is light and quick, not a full first tone.
Can you just say 我妈妈, or do you need 我的妈妈?
我妈妈 is totally normal in speech; 我的妈妈 sounds more written or emphatic.
With close people words like 妈妈, 爸爸, and 朋友, everyday Chinese often drops 的. Saying 我妈妈 is not lazy; it is the normal street-native default in conversation. 我的妈妈 is also correct, but it sounds more written, formal, or emphatic. Use 我的妈妈 when you want to stress “my mom, not yours.”
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Casual chat | 我妈妈今天很忙。 | 我的妈妈今天很忙。 (stiff) |
| Written intro | 我的妈妈是一名医生。 | 我妈妈是一名医生。 (too casual for essay) |
| Contrast | 我的妈妈，不是他的妈妈。 | 我妈妈，不是他妈妈。 (less emphatic) |
Why does 爸爸的妈妈 mean grandma, while 爸爸妈妈 means parents?
的 turns 爸爸的妈妈 into 'dad's mom'; without 的, 爸爸妈妈 means 'dad and mom'.
Chinese often strings family words together without 的 to mean a pair or group. 爸爸妈妈 means “dad and mom,” which usually means your parents. Adding 的 marks possession, so 爸爸的妈妈 means “the mom of dad,” your grandma. The same pattern gives 妈妈的朋友 for “mom’s friend” and 我的朋友 for “my friend.”
“爸爸的妈妈叫什么？” (What do you call Daddy's mommy?)
“爸爸的妈妈叫什么？” (What do you call Daddy's mommy?)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Parents | 爸爸妈妈 | 爸爸的妈妈 |
| Dad's mom | 爸爸的妈妈 | 爸爸妈妈 |
| Mom's mom | 妈妈的妈妈 | 妈妈妈妈 |
Do both syllables of 妈妈 use a full first tone?
No. The first 妈 is first tone; the second is light and quick.
妈妈 is pronounced māma, not māmā with two heavy first tones. The second syllable is light and quick, like the second 爸 in 爸爸. This happens with many repeated family words, including 哥哥 and 姐姐. If you hammer both syllables equally, it sounds robotic and over-emphasized.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Tone pattern | māma | māmā |
| Second syllable | light and quick | full first tone |
| Similar family words | 爸爸 bàba, 哥哥 gēge | bàbà, gēgē |
Appears in Stories 6 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Meet Dr. Mi, a doctor and teacher at Sichuan University. This simple HSK 1 story shows his daily routine from morning to night, helping you learn time expressions and everyday activities.
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米中家 妈妈 说：“这不是‘米老师的一天’，这是‘米老师的天天’”。
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
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你的爸爸 妈妈 也来了吗？
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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他给爸爸 妈妈 打了个电话，问他们那边怎么样。
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
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妈妈 也喜欢热天气。
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我和 妈妈 去那个商店买点喝的东西。
This simple story introduces you to a family and what each member likes to do. Learn helpful words for food and daily activities as you read about Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, and the kids.
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爸爸喝热茶 妈妈 吃冷菜。
Before you read, meet the grandparents! This rhyming chant helps you practice the different names for maternal and paternal grandparents in Chinese. Listen to the beat and repeat.
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爸爸的 妈妈 叫什么？
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爸爸的 妈妈 叫奶奶。
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