n.
paternal grandfather; grandpa
爷爷
paternal grandfather; grandpa
Paternal grandfather (father's father) or a respectful term of address for elderly gentlemen; warm household staple.
Common Usage & Traps
- 我的爷爷 — my grandpa
- 爷爷好 — Hello, Grandpa
- 爷爷奶奶 — grandpa and grandma; paternal grandparents
- 叫爷爷 — call him Grandpa; is called Grandpa
- 爷爷的家 — Grandpa's home
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妈妈的爸爸叫爷爷妈妈的爸爸叫外公 / 姥爷爷爷 is your father's father. Your mother's father is 外公 in standard Mandarin or 姥爷 in northern speech.
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爷爷爷Modern Mandarin uses the reduplicated form 爷爷 to address your grandpa. Bare 爷 sounds dialectal or incomplete.
Why is 爷爷 your dad's dad, and what do you call your mom's dad?
爷爷 is your dad's dad; your mom's dad is 外公 or 姥爷.
English 'grandpa' covers both sides of the family. Chinese splits them by which parent. Use 爷爷 for your father's father. Use 外公 for your mother's father in standard Mandarin. In northern speech, 姥爷 is the everyday word for maternal grandpa. If you call your maternal grandfather 爷爷, your family will gently correct you.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Paternal grandpa | 爷爷 | 外公 |
| Maternal grandpa | 外公 / 姥爷 | 爷爷 |
| Family intro | 爸爸的爸爸叫爷爷 | 妈妈的爸爸叫爷爷 |
Can you say 爸爸的爸爸是爷爷, or does it have to be 叫爷爷?
Use 叫 to name someone; 是 only equates, so 爸爸的爸爸是爷爷 sounds stiff.
爸爸的爸爸叫爷爷 is the natural way to define a kinship term. 叫 introduces the name or title. 是 links two things as equal, so it sounds like a textbook definition. You can still say 他是我的爷爷. Just add 我的 if you use 是.
“爸爸的爸爸叫爷爷。” (Daddy's daddy is called Grandpa (yéye).)
“爸爸的爸爸叫爷爷。” (Daddy's daddy is called Grandpa (yéye).)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Defining kinship | 爸爸的爸爸叫爷爷 | 爸爸的爸爸是爷爷 |
| Identifying your own | 他是我的爷爷 | 他是爷爷 |
When can you call an elderly stranger 爷爷?
Yes, 爷爷 can address an elderly stranger, but not any random older guy.
Chinese often uses family words for strangers to sound warm and respectful. 爷爷 works for a man who looks grandpa-aged. A middle-aged man is 叔叔 or 大哥, not 爷爷. In formal settings, 老先生 is a safer bet.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Elderly stranger | 爷爷 / 老先生 | 喂 |
| Middle-aged man | 叔叔 / 大哥 | 爷爷 |
Appears in Stories 2 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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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爸爸的爸爸叫 爷爷 。
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爷爷 和奶奶，姥爷和姥姥，他们都爱我，我也爱他们。
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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爷爷 吃面包，奶奶喝牛奶。
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