What to call Grandma in Mandarin Chinese
In Mandarin Chinese, grandma is usually Nǎinai (father's mother) or Lǎolao or Wàipó (mother's mother) (said NYE-nye / LAOW-laow) and grandpa is Yéye (father's father) or Lǎoye or Wàigōng (mother's father) (said YEH-yeh / LAOW-yeh). Mandarin uses different words for your mother's and your father's parents. Spellings and pronunciations vary by region and by family, so ask which version yours uses.
Is Nǎinai the only word?
Families make these words their own. Many use a nickname a toddler first said, and that's the name that sticks. Ask your family which they use.
Grandma
- Nǎinai (father's mother)
- Lǎolao or Wàipó (mother's mother)
Grandpa
- Yéye (father's father)
- Lǎoye or Wàigōng (mother's father)
Decode Grandma's name
One of you has the code, the other has the key. Together you'll spell what Grandma is called in Mandarin Chinese.
AGrandparent's clues
Your decoder key
| 1A | 2B | 3C | 4D | 5E | 6F | 7G |
| 8H | 9I | 10J | 11K | 12L | 13M | 14N |
| 15O | 16P | 17Q | 18R | 19S | 20T | 21U |
| 22V | 23W | 24X | 25Y | 26Z |
BGrandkid's clues
Your secret numbers
The secret code:
14191419