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March 24, 2026
奶奶nǎinai(nai3nai5)
奶奶 (nǎinai) refers primarily to one's paternal grandmother in an informal and affectionate manner. It can also denote a respectful term for the mistress of the house. In colloquial usage, it may refer to breasts, highlighting the word's versatility in different contexts.
Frequency#1459DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the role of the grandmother (奶奶) is significant, often embodying wisdom and care within the family. Grandmothers frequently play a crucial role in raising grandchildren, reflecting the deep respect for elder family members.
Memory Tip
Imagine a warm, cozy kitchen where your 'nai nai' (奶奶) bakes cookies. The character 奶 (nǎi) looks like a cup (奶), which is associated with milk, often given to children by their grandmothers, and 奶奶 (nǎinai) sounds like 'nigh-nigh,' which could remind you of the comforting presence of a grandmother. Picture her saying 'nigh-nigh' as she tucks you into bed.
Meanings of 奶奶
nǎinai(nai3nai5)
1(informal) grandma (paternal grandmother)
2(respectful) mistress of the house
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About 奶奶
奶奶Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1459Frequency Rank
位Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 奶奶
Podcast: 奶奶
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AI Study Notes for 奶奶
Quick Contrast
外婆 (wàipó) refers to one's maternal grandmother, while 奶奶 (nǎinai) specifically denotes the paternal grandmother.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a warm, cozy kitchen where your 'nai nai' (奶奶) bakes cookies. The character 奶 (nǎi) looks like a cup (奶), which is associated with milk, often given to children by their grandmothers, and 奶奶 (nǎinai) sounds like 'nigh-nigh,' which could remind you of the comforting presence of a grandmother. Picture her saying 'nigh-nigh' as she tucks you into bed.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 奶奶 (nǎinai) with 外婆 (wàipó), which refers to maternal grandmothers. This word is informal and should be used in casual contexts when addressing or referring to grandmothers. Learners should be cautious of the tone, as using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 奶奶 (nǎinai) connects to other family-related vocabulary, like 爸爸 (bàba, dad) and 妈妈 (māmā, mom). Students should focus on pronunciation and recognizing its various meanings in context to enhance their familial vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the role of the grandmother (奶奶) is significant, often embodying wisdom and care within the family. Grandmothers frequently play a crucial role in raising grandchildren, reflecting the deep respect for elder family members.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 奶奶 (nǎinai) with the female term for maternal grandmother (外婆, wàipó), leading to incorrect familial references. For instance, saying '我的奶奶是外婆' (My grandmother is my maternal grandmother) is incorrect; it should be '我的外婆是我的外婆'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 奶奶
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Grammar Patterns of 奶奶
奶奶 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 4 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.
Malcolm worked up the nerve to ask Grandma Rose for some help.
5
他们搀扶老奶奶下楼到一楼去.
tā mén chān fú lǎo nǎi nǎi xià lóu dào yī lóu qù.
They handed Grandma down to the ground floor.
6
奥!一团会说话的火焰. 我把你带到那个最甜的老奶奶那里去!
ào! ! yī tuán huì shuō huà de huǒ. yàn . wǒ bǎ nǐ dài dào nà gè zuì tián de lǎo nǎi nǎi nà!
ZC Enters the house a fire. But, there underground passage here!
7
她奶奶借给她一架相机，让她带上参加学校组织的威尼斯和埃及之旅。
tā nǎi nǎi jiè gěi tā yī jià xiāng jī， ， ràng tā dài shàng cān jiā xué xiào zǔ zhī de wēi ní sī hé āi jí zhī。
Her gran lent her a camera for a school trip to Venice and Egypt.
8
三朝两天来给奶奶托梦.
sān zhāo liǎng tiān lái gěi nǎi nǎi tuō mèng.
Every two or three days he appears in a dream to my mistress.
9
有时我被扔给奶奶照看，或者被交给毫无经验的临时保姆。
yǒu shí wǒ bèi rēng gěi nǎi nǎi zhào kàn， ， huò zhě bèi jiāo gěi háo wú jīng yàn de lín shí bǎo。
I was sometimes dumped with my grandmother or left with highly unsuitable au pairs.
10
奶奶是乘火车过来的。
nǎi nǎi shì chéng huǒ chē guò lái de。
Granny travelled down by train.
Cultural Notes for 奶奶
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the role of the grandmother (奶奶) is significant, often embodying wisdom and care within the family. Grandmothers frequently play a crucial role in raising grandchildren, reflecting the deep respect for elder family members.
Frequently Asked Questions about 奶奶
Yes, 奶奶 specifically refers to paternal grandmothers. For maternal grandmothers, the term 外婆 (wàipó) is used.
奶奶 is informal and should be used in casual conversations. For formal situations, it's better to use the person's name or title.
Colloquially, 奶奶 can refer to breasts, so context is important when using the term.
