Chinese phrases
How to say grandpa in Chinese
Grandpa in Chinese is 爷爷 (yé ye) for your father’s father and 外公 (wài gōng) or 姥爷 (lǎo ye) for your mother’s father. 外公 is usual in the south, 姥爷 in the north.
爷爷
grandpa (father’s father)
Ways to say grandpa
爷爷
Everydaygrandpa (father’s father)
Your father’s father, everywhere in China. You use it to address him and to talk about him.
外公
Everydaygrandpa (mother’s father)
Your mother’s father. The usual word in southern China, and understood everywhere.
姥爷
Everydaygrandpa (mother’s father, northern)
Your mother’s father in northern China, for example in Beijing and the northeast.
祖父
Writtengrandfather (father’s side, formal)
In writing and formal speech. Nobody calls their grandpa this.
外祖父
Writtengrandfather (mother’s side, formal)
The written word for your mother’s father, for example in a document or an essay.
Older men outside the family
爷爷
grandpa
To a man about your grandfather’s age, for example a neighbour. Warm and respectful.
大爷
uncle (to an older man)
To an older man in northern China, for example to ask the way: 大爷，请问…
叔叔
uncle
To a man about your parents’ age.
Common mistakes
Calling both grandfathers 爷爷
爷爷 is only your father’s father. Your mother’s father is 外公 or 姥爷.
Writing 老爷 for 姥爷
Both are said lǎo ye, so they are easy to mix up when you type. 老爷 is “master,” as in old stories. Grandpa is 姥爷, with 女 on the left.
Calling a middle-aged man 大爷
大爷 and 爷爷 are for men clearly older than your parents. A man of your parents’ age is 叔叔, and he may not like 大爷.
Chess in the park
爷爷，您在下棋啊？
Liangliang: Grandpa, are you playing chess?
对，来，陪我下一盘。
Grandpa: Yes. Come on, play a game with me.
好，不过您别让着我。
Liangliang: OK, but don’t go easy on me.
放心，爷爷不让你。
Grandpa: Don’t worry, Grandpa won’t.
