姆 (mǔ) - Mother & matron

姆Tone 3

mǔ ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 女

妙慕

姆 · mǔ

Mother;

matron;

governess;

used in words for female caretakers like nanny or wet nurse.

Mothermatrongoverness

Usage highlights

NannyMotherWet nurseGovernessAuntMatron

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • My mother (母亲) is a teacher.
  • The nanny (保姆) takes care of the children.
  • She works as a governess (家庭女教师).
  • The wet nurse (乳母) fed the baby.

Collocations

  • Nanny(保姆)
  • Mother(母亲)
  • Wet nurse(乳母)
  • Governess(家庭女教师)
  • Aunt(伯母/叔母)
  • Mother-in-law(婆婆/岳母)

Idioms

  • A virtuous mother educates her son(贤母教子)
  • Like mother, like daughter(有其母必有其女)
  • The mother's kindness is hard to repay(母恩难报)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditionally denotes a female caregiver or elder female relative, emphasizing nurturing roles.
  • Used in kinship terms for maternal figures beyond the biological mother (e.g., 伯母 for paternal aunt).
  • In modern contexts, often appears in occupational terms like 保姆 (nanny/housekeeper).

FAQ