Definition
嬷嬷 is a term used in some dialects and historical or literary contexts to respectfully address an elderly woman, often a senior female servant or a wet nurse. It appears frequently in classic Chinese novels like 'Dream of the Red Chamber', where it carries a tone of familiarity and respect. In modern Mandarin, it is less common in everyday speech but still recognized in historical fiction and regional usage.
n.
(dialectal or literary) respectful term for an elderly woman(historical) wet nurse
Examples
- 嬷嬷，。Zhè wèi mā mā shì gōng lǐ de lǎorén, dàjiā dōu zūnjìng tā.This old woman is a senior in the palace; everyone respects her.
- 嬷嬷。Xiǎoshuō lǐ nà wèi mā mā shì Jiǎ Bǎoyù de nǎimā.In the novel, that wet nurse is Jia Baoyu's wet nurse.
- 嬷嬷。Cūn lǐ de mā mā men cháng zài yìqǐ liáotiān.The old women in the village often chat together.
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