媼 (ǎo) - Old woman, elderly woman, matron & used respectfully for older women.

媼Tone 3

ǎo ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

安傲

媼 · ǎo

Old woman, elderly woman, matron;

used respectfully for older women.

Old woman, elderly woman, matronused respectfully for older women.

Usage highlights

Old womanElderly ladyNeighborhood matronVillage elder womanRespectful term for older woman

Synonyms

  • 妪— Old woman
  • 老妇— Old woman, elderly female

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The old woman was telling stories (老媪在讲故事).
  • She is a kind elderly lady (她是一位慈祥的媪).
  • In ancient texts, 媪 often refers to an old woman (古文中媪常指老妇).

Collocations

  • Old woman(老媪)
  • Elderly lady(老媪)
  • Neighborhood matron(邻媪)
  • Village elder woman(村媪)
  • Respectful term for older woman(媪妪)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used as a respectful term for older women, especially in classical literature.
  • Appears in historical texts and stories referring to elderly female characters, often with a tone of respect.
  • Less common in modern spoken language but preserved in literary and historical contexts.

FAQ