Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
姥lǎo(lao3)
The character 姥 (lǎo) primarily refers to a maternal grandmother or an old woman. It can also denote a governess, highlighting its connection to nurturing and caregiving roles in a family context. This term is commonly used in family discussions or when referring to maternal lineage.
Strokes9Radical女Frequency#52446DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the maternal grandmother plays a vital role in the family structure, often involved in childcare and family traditions, reflecting the importance of maternal lineage and support.
Memory Tip
Imagine an old woman (grandma) wearing a large hat that looks like a 'L' shape, representing 'lǎo'. The 'hat' symbolizes care and wisdom, connecting her to the role of a governess or a maternal figure, making it easier to remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 姥
lǎo(lao3)
primary
1grandma (maternal)
2governess
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 姥
姥Simplified
9Strokes
女Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#52446Frequency Rank
Podcast: 姥
Podcast: 姥
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 姥
Quick Contrast
外婆 (wàipó, maternal grandmother) — use 姥 (lǎo) when emphasizing the nurturing aspect, while 外婆 (wàipó) is more commonly used in general contexts.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine an old woman (grandma) wearing a large hat that looks like a 'L' shape, representing 'lǎo'. The 'hat' symbolizes care and wisdom, connecting her to the role of a governess or a maternal figure, making it easier to remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 姥 (lǎo) with 老 (lǎo), which means 'old' in a more general sense. 姥 is more specific to maternal grandmothers or caregiving roles. It is important to use this term in familial contexts rather than formal or professional ones.
HSK Study Tips
Although 姥 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for understanding family-related terms. Students should focus on related words like 妈妈 (māma - mother) and 奶奶 (nǎinai - paternal grandmother) to better grasp familial relationships in Mandarin.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the maternal grandmother plays a vital role in the family structure, often involved in childcare and family traditions, reflecting the importance of maternal lineage and support.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 姥 to refer to any grandmother, not differentiating between maternal and paternal. For example, saying '我的姥奶奶' (wǒ de lǎo nǎinai) is incorrect; it should simply be '奶奶' (nǎinai) for paternal grandmother.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 姥
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 姥 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 姥 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 姥
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the maternal grandmother plays a vital role in the family structure, often involved in childcare and family traditions, reflecting the importance of maternal lineage and support.
Word Family of 姥
Words Containing This Character4
姥姥lǎolao(coll.) mother's mother
姥lǎogoverness
姥爷lǎoyematernal grandfather (dialectal)姥爺
姨姥姥great-aunt
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 姥姥 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 姥
No, 姥 is mostly used in spoken language and informal writing when referring to family.
Not precisely; it specifically refers to a maternal grandmother or a governess, rather than just any old woman.
While both are pronounced 'lǎo', 姥 specifically refers to a maternal grandmother, whereas 老 is a general term for 'old'.
