婆婆

pópo

noun #8,247

Meanings

1 mother-in-law (husband's mother)
2 grandmother (paternal, in some dialects)
3 old lady

Characters

old woman; grandmother; mother-in-law

(reduplication for familial address)

Examples

她和婆婆的关系很好。

Tā hé pópo de guānxì hěn hǎo.

She has a good relationship with her mother-in-law.

婆婆做的菜特别好吃。

Pópo zuò de cài tèbié hǎochī.

Mother-in-law's cooking is especially delicious.

婆婆媳妇的矛盾很常见。

Pópo xífù de máodùn hěn chángjiàn.

Conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are very common.

Tips

culture

The 婆媳关系 (póxí guānxì, mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship) is a major theme in Chinese family life and TV dramas. Traditionally, a new bride moved into her husband's family home and was under her 婆婆's authority.

mistakes

婆婆 is specifically the husband's mother. The wife's mother is 岳母 (yuèmǔ, formal) or 丈母娘 (zhàngmǔniáng, colloquial). Mixing these up is a common mistake for learners.

Stroke Order

婆 pó