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外公 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
外公wàigōng(coll.) mother's fatherHSK 5, n, 9 strokes, rank #7694, Hard
外公wàigōngmaternal grandfatherHSK 5, n, 9 strokes, rank #7694, Hard
wàigōng(wai4gong1) T4
  1. 1(coll.) mother's father
  2. 2maternal grandfather
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March 24, 2026

外公wàigōng(wai4gong1)

外公 refers to one's maternal grandfather, specifically the father of one's mother. This term is commonly used in family contexts and is a warm, affectionate way to refer to this family member, emphasizing the maternal side of the family.

Strokes9Frequency#7694DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, family hierarchy and respect for elders are significant, making the term 外公 not just a label but a sign of familial respect and affection. It's common for families to gather and celebrate around this figure during holidays.

Memory Tip

Imagine a grandpa outside (外 - 'wai') in the garden, waving to you with a big smile. The '公' (gong) part sounds like 'gong,' which you can think of as the joyful sound of celebration whenever you visit him. Together, they remind you of your loving maternal grandfather.

Meanings of 外公

wàigōng(wai4gong1)
1(coll.) mother's father
2maternal grandfather
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 外公

外公Simplified
9Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7694Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 外公

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Podcast: 外公

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AI Study Notes for 外公

Quick Contrast

外祖父 (wàizǔfù) — use 外公 for a more affectionate, casual reference to maternal grandfather, while 外祖父 is more formal.

Usage Notes

A common mistake is to confuse 外公 with 祖父 (zǔfù), which means paternal grandfather. While 外公 is informal and affectionate, it’s crucial to use it appropriately in family discussions. Watch out for tone errors, especially with '外' (wai4) and '公' (gong1).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 外公 connects with other family terms like 母亲 (mǔqīn - mother) and 家 (jiā - family). Focus on using it in sentences related to family events or discussing lineage to reinforce understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 外公 when referring to their paternal grandfather, which is incorrect. The correct term for paternal grandfather is 祖父 (zǔfù).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 外公

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Component Characters

外wàioutside
HSK 15 strokes夕
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公gōngpublic
HSK 64 strokes八
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How to say maternal grandfather in Chinese

“maternal grandfather” in Chinese is外公wàigōng

外公 refers to one's maternal grandfather, specifically the father of one's mother. This term is commonly used in family contexts and is a warm, affectionate way to refer to this family member, emphasizing the maternal side of the family.

When to use 外公

A common mistake is to confuse 外公 with 祖父 (zǔfù), which means paternal grandfather. While 外公 is informal and affectionate, it’s crucial to use it appropriately in family discussions. Watch out for tone errors, especially with '外' (wai4) and '公' (gong1).

外公 or something close to it

外祖父 (wàizǔfù) — use 外公 for a more affectionate, casual reference to maternal grandfather, while 外祖父 is more formal.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 外公 when referring to their paternal grandfather, which is incorrect. The correct term for paternal grandfather is 祖父 (zǔfù).

Write 外公

外
公

Practice writing 外公 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 外公

外公 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他的祖父和____都热衷于演说。

Both his grandfathers were fired with an enthusiasm for public speaking.

Example Sentences for 外公 (19)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
n(coll.) mother's father13
1
他的祖父和外公都热衷于演说。

tā de zǔ fù hé wài gōng dū rè zhōng yú yǎn shuō。

Both his grandfathers were fired with an enthusiasm for public speaking.
2
外公总是能在家族聚会时讲述他年轻时的冒险经历，让我们听得入迷。

Wàigōng zǒng shì néng zài jiāzú jùhuì shí jiǎngshù tā niánqīng shí de màoxiǎn jīnglì, ràng wǒmen tīng de rùmí.

Grandpa always captivates us with tales of his adventures during family gatherings.
3
外公退休后，开始研究古代历史，对每个细节都充满热情。

Wàigōng tuìxiū hòu, kāishǐ yánjiū gǔdài lìshǐ, duì měi ge xìjié dōu chōngmǎn rèqíng.

After retiring, my grandpa began studying ancient history and is passionate about every detail.
4
外公喜欢在阳台上种花，每天早上都要细心地浇水。

Wàigōng xǐhuān zài yángtái shàng zhòng huā, měitiān zǎoshang dōu yào xìxīn de jiāo shuǐ.

Grandpa enjoys growing flowers on the balcony and carefully waters them every morning.
5
每次外公来看望我们，他都会带来自己做的美味糕点。

Měi cì wàigōng lái kànwàng wǒmen, tā dōu huì dàilái zìjǐ zuò de měiwèi gāodiǎn.

Every time Grandpa visits us, he brings delicious pastries he made himself.
6
外公常常在午后的阳光下读书，他说这样最惬意。

Wàigōng chángcháng zài wǔhòu de yángguāng xià dúshū, tā shuō zhèyàng zuì qièyì.

Grandpa often reads in the afternoon sunshine; he says it's the most pleasant.
7
我们全家都很喜欢听外公交代他年轻时的奋斗故事。

Wǒmen quánjiā dōu hěn xǐhuān tīng wàigōng jiǎngdài tā niánqīng shí de fèndòu gùshì.

Our whole family loves listening to Grandpa share stories of his struggles when he was young.
8
外公总是能在家族聚会时讲述他年轻时的冒险经历，让我们听得入迷。

Wàigōng zǒng shì néng zài jiāzú jùhuì shí jiǎngshù tā niánqīng shí de màoxiǎn jīnglì, ràng wǒmen tīng de rùmí.

Grandpa always captivates us with tales of his adventures during family gatherings.
9
外公退休后，开始研究古代历史，对每个细节都充满热情。

Wàigōng tuìxiū hòu, kāishǐ yánjiū gǔdài lìshǐ, duì měi ge xìjié dōu chōngmǎn rèqíng.

After retiring, my grandpa began studying ancient history and is passionate about every detail.
10
外公喜欢在阳台上种花，每天早上都要细心地浇水。

Wàigōng xǐhuān zài yángtái shàng zhòng huā, měitiān zǎoshang dōu yào xìxīn de jiāo shuǐ.

Grandpa enjoys growing flowers on the balcony and carefully waters them every morning.
11
每次外公来看望我们，他都会带来自己做的美味糕点。

Měi cì wàigōng lái kànwàng wǒmen, tā dōu huì dàilái zìjǐ zuò de měiwèi gāodiǎn.

Every time Grandpa visits us, he brings delicious pastries he made himself.
12
外公常常在午后的阳光下读书，他说这样最惬意。

Wàigōng chángcháng zài wǔhòu de yángguāng xià dúshū, tā shuō zhèyàng zuì qièyì.

Grandpa often reads in the afternoon sunshine; he says it's the most pleasant.
13
我们全家都很喜欢听外公交代他年轻时的奋斗故事。

Wǒmen quánjiā dōu hěn xǐhuān tīng wàigōng jiǎngdài tā niánqīng shí de fèndòu gùshì.

Our whole family loves listening to Grandpa share stories of his struggles when he was young.
nmaternal grandfather6
14
每年春节，我们都会去外公家团聚，一起包饺子。

Měinián Chūnjié, wǒmen dōu huì qù wàigōng jiā tuánjù, yīqǐ bāo jiǎozi.

Every Chinese New Year, we gather at my maternal grandfather's house to make dumplings together.
15
外公年轻时是一名杰出的建筑师，设计了很多著名的建筑。

Wàigōng niánqīng shí shì yī míng jiéchū de jiànzhùshī, shèjìle hěnduō zhùmíng de jiànzhù.

When my maternal grandfather was young, he was an outstanding architect who designed many famous buildings.
16
我小时候，外公常常给我讲他在农村的有趣故事。

Wǒ xiǎoshíhòu, wàigōng chángcháng gěi wǒ jiǎng tā zài nóngcūn de yǒuqù gùshì.

When I was a child, my maternal grandfather often told me interesting stories about his life in the countryside.
17
每年春节，我们都会去外公家团聚，一起包饺子。

Měinián Chūnjié, wǒmen dōu huì qù wàigōng jiā tuánjù, yīqǐ bāo jiǎozi.

Every Chinese New Year, we gather at my maternal grandfather's house to make dumplings together.
18
外公年轻时是一名杰出的建筑师，设计了很多著名的建筑。

Wàigōng niánqīng shí shì yī míng jiéchū de jiànzhùshī, shèjìle hěnduō zhùmíng de jiànzhù.

When my maternal grandfather was young, he was an outstanding architect who designed many famous buildings.
19
我小时候，外公常常给我讲他在农村的有趣故事。

Wǒ xiǎoshíhòu, wàigōng chángcháng gěi wǒ jiǎng tā zài nóngcūn de yǒuqù gùshì.

When I was a child, my maternal grandfather often told me interesting stories about his life in the countryside.

Frequently Asked Questions about 外公

外公 refers specifically to your maternal grandfather, while 祖父 refers to your paternal grandfather.

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