Grandmother in Chinese: Nai Nai, Lao Lao, and What They Really Mean

In Chinese, kids call their paternal grandma “Nai Nai” (奶奶) and their maternal grandma “Lao Lao” (姥姥) — but there’s more to these names than vocabulary. Chinese family titles carry deep cultural meaning, reflect centuries of family structure, and appear on the HSK test. Here’s everything parents and kids need to know.

What Exactly Do You Call Your Grandmother in Chinese?

In Mandarin Chinese, children call their father’s mother “Nai Nai” (奶奶) and their mother’s mother “Lao Lao” (姥姥).

These aren’t nicknames. Each word comes with a specific role, a warm history, and its own set of tones.

Nai Nai (奶奶)

• Pinyin: nǎi nai
• Tones: 3rd tone + neutral tone
• Meaning: Paternal grandmother (your dad’s mom)
• Usage: A child might say, “Nǎi nai, wǒ ài nǐ!” — “Grandma, I love you!”

Lao Lao (姥姥)

• Pinyin: lǎo lao
• Tones: 3rd tone + neutral tone
• Meaning: Maternal grandmother (your mom’s mom)
• Usage: “Lǎo lao zuò de cài zuì hǎo chī!” — “Grandma makes the best food!”

Both words feel soft and warm when spoken aloud. That’s no accident. Chinese family words are designed to feel close and affectionate, not formal.

🎵 Repeat after me –Nǎi nai. Lǎo lao

Why Does Chinese Have Two Different Names for Grandma?

Chinese has different names because the culture clearly separates the father’s side (paternal) from the mother’s side (maternal).

This isn’t just a language quirk. It reflects how Chinese families have organized themselves for thousands of years. Knowing which side of the family you’re talking about matters—in conversation, in tradition, and in daily life.

Think of it this way: when a child talks about “going to Grandma’s house,” a Chinese speaker knows right away whose grandma and whose house. That clarity shapes how families communicate, how kids form identity, and how traditions pass down.

Here’s a quick reference table for Chinese grandparent titles:

This distinction runs through the whole Chinese family vocabulary system. Aunts, uncles, and cousins all have different titles depending on which side of the family they belong to. Kids who learn these early build a much stronger foundation for real Chinese conversation.

🎵 Repeat after me – Yé ye. Lǎo ye.

What Role Do Chinese Grandparents Play in the Family?

Chinese grandparents take on daily caregiving and pass down family traditions to their grandchildren.

In many Chinese families, grandparents live under the same roof as their children and grandchildren. This multigenerational setup isn’t just practical—it’s deeply valued. Grandparents cook family recipes, tell folk stories, teach traditional games, and hold the family’s history in their memory.

Nai Nai might wake up early to make congee before school. Lao Lao might teach a grandchild how to fold dumplings during the Lunar New Year. Ye Ye might spend afternoons playing chess with his grandson. These moments carry a weight that no textbook can replicate.

This caregiving role also shapes a child’s relationship with the Chinese language. Many children in overseas Chinese families speak Mandarin mostly with their grandparents. That bond—”I speak Chinese because of Nai Nai”—becomes a powerful motivator.

WuKong students love talking about their grandparents in class. Teachers often open a lesson with “Tell me about someone you love”—and grandparents are almost always the first answer. That emotional connection makes the vocabulary stick.

How Can Kids Learn Chinese Family Titles the Fun Way?

Kids learn family titles best through songs, games, and real-life stories—not by memorizing flashcards.

Flashcards have their place. But for young children—especially those aged 3 to 6—vocabulary lands when it comes with emotion, movement, and story. “Nai Nai” means more when a child hears it in a song about a grandma making dumplings than when they see it printed on a card.

Here are three ways that work:

1. Sing it first. Songs lock words into memory fast. A simple melody like “Wǒ hé nǎinai qù mǎi cài…” (I go grocery shopping with Grandma…) gives children a phrase they’ll hum at the dinner table. Repetition happens naturally when a song is fun enough to repeat.

🎵 Sing-along time – “Wǒ hé nǎinai qù mǎi cài…” Click to hear the song and sing!

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2. Play with tongue twisters. Tongue twisters train the ear and the mouth at the same time. A phrase like “Lǎo lao ài nào nào” (Grandma loves to be lively) makes kids laugh while drilling the tones.

🎵 Tongue twister fun – “Lǎo lao ài nào nào…” Click to try this twisty phrase!

3. Use real family connections. Ask a child to draw their family tree and label each person in Chinese. Suddenly, “Nai Nai” isn’t an abstract word—it’s Grandma Wang who makes the best red bean soup. That personal link makes vocabulary permanent.

WuKong’s K-series curriculum (启蒙课程), designed for children aged 3 to 6, uses exactly these methods. Every lesson builds around stories and games that make language feel natural. A child learns “Nai Nai” the same way they learned their first words in any language—through joy, repetition, and love.

What Chinese Family Words Appear on the HSK Test?

Family titles like 奶奶 and 爷爷 appear on the HSK Level 3 test, while 姥姥 and 姥爷 appear on HSK Level 5. Based on the official HSK vocabulary lists.

Parents who want a roadmap for their child’s Chinese learning often turn to the HSK framework. HSK is China’s official Chinese proficiency test, and knowing which vocabulary appears at each level helps families set clear goals.

Here’s how family vocabulary maps to HSK levels:

• HSK Level 1: 爸爸 (bà ba – dad), 妈妈 (mā ma – mom)
• HSK Level 2: 哥哥 (gē ge – older brother), 姐姐 (jiě jie – older sister), 弟弟 (dì di – younger brother), 妹妹 (mèi mei – younger sister)
• HSK Level 3: 奶奶 (nǎi nai – paternal grandma), 爷爷 (yé ye – paternal grandpa)
• HSK Level 5: 姥姥 (lǎo lao – maternal grandma), 姥爷 (lǎo ye – maternal grandpa)

This progression makes sense. Children encounter mom and dad first. Siblings come next. Grandparents—the maternal side in particular—come later, when vocabulary and comprehension have deepened.

Tones matter more than most parents expect. The difference between yē (爷, grandpa) and yé, yě, or yè changes the meaning entirely. Getting tones wrong doesn’t just sound off—it can cause real confusion.

🎵 Tone slider game – yē, yé, yě, yè. Click to pick the right tone for Grandpa!

Knowing where your child stands on the HSK ladder helps you choose the right WuKong curriculum series and set meaningful goals for each school year.

How Does WuKong Teach Chinese Family Words to Kids?

WuKong teaches family words through 1-on-1 live classes that use the “7-Step Learning Method”—from preview to real-life application.

Every WuKong lesson follows a clear path. The 7-Step Learning Method turns a single word like “grandmother in Chinese” into a skill a child can use with confidence.

Here’s how it works with family vocabulary:

1. Preview – The child sees “Nai Nai” in a warm family scene before class begins. The word arrives with context, not in isolation.
2. Learn – A certified WuKong teacher introduces the character, pinyin, and tone in a live 1-on-1 session. The child asks questions in real time.
3. Review – The teacher revisits key points. The child repeats, adjusts, and builds accuracy.
4. Practice – The child uses “Nai Nai” in a sentence, a song, or a short story. Active use locks vocabulary in place.
5. Recap – The teacher summarizes what the child learned. This step builds confidence before the lesson ends.
6. Test – A short check confirms understanding. No pressure—just a friendly assessment.
7. Apply – The child introduces their own family members in Chinese. “This is my Nai Nai. She lives in Beijing.” Real life makes the lesson real.

This method works because it mirrors how children naturally learn language—through context, repetition, and meaningful use.

WuKong’s results reflect this approach. Over 400,000 families across 118+ countries trust WuKong for their children’s Chinese education. WuKong holds Cognia® certification with a score of 395 out of 400—the highest earned by any global Chinese education provider. Only 1% of teacher applicants pass the initial resume screening to join the WuKong team. Among those teachers, 76% hold master’s degrees or higher, and the average teaching experience is 5 or more years.

Whether your child is learning to say “Nai Nai” or working toward HSK Level 5, WuKong builds that journey with care and expertise.

Ready to start?Book a free trial class with WuKong’s 1-on-1 live teachers and let your child say “grandmother in Chinese” with confidence—and joy.

FAQ

Q1: What is the most common word for grandmother in Chinese?

A: The most common word depends on which grandmother you mean. “Nai Nai” (奶奶) refers to the paternal grandmother—your dad’s mom. “Lao Lao” (姥姥) refers to the maternal grandmother—your mom’s mom. Both words appear in everyday family conversation in Mandarin Chinese.

Q2: How do you say grandma in Chinese in pinyin?

A: Paternal grandma is “nǎi nai” and maternal grandma is “lǎo lao.” Both use a 3rd tone followed by a neutral tone. Getting the tones right affects how natural the word sounds.

Q3: Is Nai Nai vs Lao Lao a regional difference?

A: Not exactly. The distinction is cultural, not regional. Both words appear across Mandarin-speaking communities. In some regions, you may also hear “wài pó” (外婆) instead of “Lao Lao” for maternal grandmother, particularly in southern China and Taiwan. The meaning is the same.

Q4: What Chinese family titles should kids learn first?

A: Start with the closest family members: 爸爸 (dad), 妈妈 (mom), 奶奶 (paternal grandma), and 爷爷 (paternal grandpa). These words appear at HSK Level 1 (爸爸, 妈妈) and HSK Level 3 (奶奶, 爷爷)—and appear frequently in a child’s daily life and early Chinese lessons.

Q5: How can I help my child remember Chinese grandparent titles?

A: Connect the word to a real person. If your child calls their grandmother “Nai Nai,” use that name consistently at home, in stories, and during video calls with grandparents. Songs and tongue twisters also help. WuKong’s K-series curriculum uses exactly these play-based methods for children aged 3 to 6.

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Bella | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Bella holds a Master’s degree from Yangzhou University and brings 10 years of extensive experience in K-12 Chinese language teaching and research. A published scholar, she has contributed over 10 papers to the field of language and literature. Currently, Bella leads the research and development of WuKong Chinese core courses, where she prioritizes academic rigor alongside student engagement and cognitive development. She is dedicated to building a robust foundation for young learners covering phonetics (Pinyin), characters, idioms, and classical culture while ensuring that advanced courses empower students with comprehensive linguistic mastery and cultural insight.