How to Say
How to Write
ǎo
Radical: 女 12 strokes
Meaning: old woman
💡 Think 'old woman' with 'ao' as in 'au pair'—an older female caregiver.
Compounds

📚 Character Story & Explanation

媪 (ǎo) meaning in English —

Detective's note: 媪 (ǎo) is a 12-stroke character with the radical 女 (woman), indicating its connection to females. Originally meaning 'old woman,' it appears in classical texts like 'The Book of Songs' and is still used in formal contexts. Its cultural significance lies in its respectful tone when addressing elderly women, contrasting with more casual terms for 'grandmother.'

💬 Example Sentences

Common Compounds

Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up

🏠

Your First Step into Chinese Culture: Get a Chinese Name

Every journey into Chinese begins with a name. Use our free Chinese name generator to create a meaningful, personalized Chinese name that fits you perfectly.

Get My Chinese Name →

Related Characters