孃 (niáng) - Mother & maternal figure

孃Tone 2

niáng ｜ 20 strokes ｜ radical:

念柠

孃 · niáng

Mother;

maternal figure;

respectful term for an older woman or aunt.

Mothermaternal figurerespectful term for an older woman or aunt.

Usage highlights

MotherBrideAuntElderly ladyYoung ladyWet nurse

Synonyms

  • 母— mother
  • 妈— mom (more colloquial)
  • 娘— mother (variant form)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • My mother (娘) is very kind.
  • The bride (新娘) looked beautiful.
  • She is my aunt (姨娘).
  • The elderly lady (大娘) told us stories.

Collocations

  • Mother(娘)
  • Bride(新娘)
  • Aunt(姨娘)
  • Elderly lady(大娘)
  • Young lady(姑娘)
  • Wet nurse(奶娘)

Idioms

  • Like mother, like daughter(有其母必有其女)
  • The bride goes to her groom's house(新娘出嫁)
  • A girl from a good family(良家姑娘)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditionally used as a respectful term for maternal figures and older women.
  • In some dialects and historical contexts, 孃 carries more formal or respectful connotations than 娘.
  • The character appears in many kinship terms and honorifics for women.

FAQ