Meanings of 大妈
By ear
Play it, then pick what 大妈 means.
About 大妈
Podcast: 大妈
Podcast: 大妈
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 大妈
大妈 (aunt) vs 阿姨 (āyí, aunt/older woman) — use 大妈 for a paternal aunt or older women in a respectful context, while 阿姨 is more general and can refer to any woman of similar age.
Be cautious when using 大妈, as it can sometimes be perceived as informal or overly familiar, especially in more formal contexts. It is often used in a friendly and affectionate manner, but avoid using it to refer to strangers to prevent sounding disrespectful.
Although 大妈 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be understood in context with family-related words. Focus on familial terms and their relationships as they can help solidify your understanding of Chinese social structures.
Learners often confuse 大妈 with other terms for aunt, using it interchangeably with 姨妈 (yí mā), which refers to a maternal aunt. Remember, 大妈 is specific to paternal connections.
Pronunciation of 大妈
Drill the tone of 大妈 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 大妈 to You
Let me explain 大妈 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 大妈 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 大妈?
Learning Lab
Knowing 大妈 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Component Characters
How to say father's elder brother's wife in Chinese
“father's elder brother's wife” in Chinese is大妈
大妈 (dà mā) refers to the wife of one's father's elder brother, commonly known as an aunt. In a broader sense, it is an affectionate term used to address or refer to elderly women, often conveying warmth and respect.
When to use 大妈
Be cautious when using 大妈, as it can sometimes be perceived as informal or overly familiar, especially in more formal contexts. It is often used in a friendly and affectionate manner, but avoid using it to refer to strangers to prevent sounding disrespectful.
大妈 or something close to it
大妈 (aunt) vs 阿姨 (āyí, aunt/older woman) — use 大妈 for a paternal aunt or older women in a respectful context, while 阿姨 is more general and can refer to any woman of similar age.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 大妈 with other terms for aunt, using it interchangeably with 姨妈 (yí mā), which refers to a maternal aunt. Remember, 大妈 is specific to paternal connections.
Write 大妈
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 大妈 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 大妈?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Frequently Asked Questions about 大妈
While you can use 大妈 affectionately for elderly women, it’s best reserved for those you know, as it may seem disrespectful if used for strangers.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 大妈?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.