Chinese Symbol for Grandmother Tattoo: Insights and Risks

Thinking about getting a Chinese symbol tattoo for “grandmother”?

Well, let’s face it, family terms in Chinese are a bit more intricate than in English. 

Check out this article to figure out why you should be cautious about this.

What Is the Chinese Character for Grandmother?

First things first, languages have different ways of talking about family.

In English, “grandmother” covers both your dad’s mom and your mom’s mom.

But in China, we have distinct terms for them.

Paternal Grandmother

In Mandarin, the formal translation for paternal grandmother is 祖母 (Zǔmǔ). 

It is correct and all, but we don’t use it in our everyday chats.

You might spot it in:

• Classical Chinese texts
• Historical novels
• Extreme formal occasions
• Books translated from English

If we see this on your skin, we’d quickly figure out that you’re unfamiliar with Chinese culture.

In regular convo, we call paternal grandma 奶奶 (Nǎinai). It’s like saying “grandma” or even cozier, like “Nana.”

But watch out! Even though it’s common, most of us wouldn’t tattoo it on ourselves.

Here are the reasons:

• Stick a 的 (a particle in Chinese grammar) after it, and it becomes a not-so-friendly curse, 奶奶的 (Nǎinai de). 
• The solo character 奶 (Nǎi) also refers to a woman’s chest.

So, instead of 奶奶 (Nǎinai), we’d rather you went with 祖母 (Zǔmǔ).

Maternal Grandmother

In Mandarin, the formal term for maternal grandmother is 外祖母 (Wàizǔmǔ).

Just like 祖母 (Zǔmǔ), it feels a bit too bookish for a tattoo.

For a more chill vibe, you can call maternal grandma 姥姥 (Lǎolao) or 外婆 (Wàipó).

• 姥姥 (Lǎolao): Up north in China, it’s the go-to term,
• 外婆 (Wàipó): Down south, this one’s more popular.

Here’s the lowdown:

Bad news: If you stress 姥姥 (Lǎolao) with a hint of annoyance, it turns into a diss.

Good news: 外婆 (Wàipó) is a safe bet. It is not too formal or casual, and definitely no offense.

Final Thoughts

In China, not many folks go for a tattoo that says “grandmother” in Chinese. 

So, before getting that ink, you’d better take a moment to consider.

You wouldn’t want to accidentally step on any cultural toes, right?