mom; mother
HSK level
妈妈 is written with 12 strokes (妈: 6, 妈: 6). The animation replays automatically.
妈妈 (māma) is the everyday Chinese word for 'mom' — the term grown adults still use to address and refer to their own mothers.
Unlike English, where 'mom' can sound childish past a certain age, 妈妈 is the standard, unmarked word across all life stages. The second syllable is a neutral tone (māma, not māmā). Address forms are also 妈 (mā) on its own — like 'mom!'
— and the slightly more formal 母亲 (mǔqīn), reserved for writing, speeches, and respectful contexts (Mother's Day = 母亲节 mǔqīn jié, never 妈妈节). Possessive use: 我妈妈 (my mom), 你妈妈 (your mom) — 的 is usually dropped for close family.
Note: 妈妈 is the everyday term used by speakers of all ages — equivalent to English 'mom.' For formal writing (forms, news, obituaries) the term is 母亲 (mǔqīn). Very young children may also say 妈 (mā).
Character by character
Memory hook: The 女 (female) radical on the left marks family terms; 马 (mǎ, 'horse') is the sound clue.
我妈妈是老师。
Wǒ māma shì lǎoshī.
My mom is a teacher.
spoken
妈妈，我饿了。
Māma, wǒ è le.
Mom, I'm hungry.
spoken
他妈妈很漂亮。
Tā māma hěn piàoliang.
His mom is very pretty.
spoken
我爱妈妈和爸爸。
Wǒ ài māma hé bàba.
I love mom and dad.
spoken
母亲 is the formal/written word for 'mother.' Use it on official forms, in speeches, news, or respectful third-person reference. Don't address your mom as 母亲 at home — it sounds stiff. 妈妈 is the daily word.
妈 alone is a direct address — calling out 'Mom!' or appearing in compounds (大妈 'aunty'). 妈妈 is the full noun form for both reference and address.
Acquire it by listening
Fluentide turns real news into Chinese listening at your exact level, so words like 妈妈 show up again and again in natural sentences — with pinyin and translation every time. No flashcards. Free to start.
Tools
