母

See also: 毋 and 舟

母 U 6BCD, 母 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6BCD ← 毌 [U 6BCC] CJK Unified Ideographs 毎 → [U 6BCE]

⺟ U 2E9F, ⺟ CJK RADICAL MOTHER ← ⺞ [U 2E9E] CJK Radicals Supplement ⺠ → [U 2EA0]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

母 (Kangxi radical 80, 毋 1, 5 strokes, cangjie input 田卜戈 (WYI), four-corner 7750₀, composition ⿻⿻𠃋𠃌⿻⺀一)

Derived characters

• Appendix:Chinese radical/毋
• 㑄, 呣, 坶, 姆, 𡥓, 㟂, 𢘃, 拇, 𣳠, 𤝕, 乸, 栂, 𣭇, 牳, 𭹃, 胟, 𤵝, 𥎳, 砪, 䍭, 𧉯, 𧰷, 𧿹, 𨈶, 𨱱, 鉧(𬭁), 𩶋
• 㝀, 𨾥, 䳇, 𠰔, 𡥘, 𢘓, 袰, 𧦥, 貫, 𡴋, 苺, 𣳗, 𤯟, 𦊏, 𭑐, 𥬦, 𬙰, 𫕢, 𣚺, 㺙

Related characters

• 毋 (See glyph origin)

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 588, character 25
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 16723
• Dae Jaweon: page 980, character 32
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2380, character 3
• Unihan data for U 6BCD

Further reading

• 母 on Wikidata.Wikidata

Chinese

simp. and trad.		母

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 母
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (母) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
脢	*mɯːs, *mɯː, *mɯːs
挴	*mlɯːʔ, *mɯːʔ
海	*hmlɯːʔ
毐	*ʔmɯː, *ʔmɯːʔ
呣	*mɯ
拇	*mɯʔ
母	*mɯʔ
胟	*mɯʔ
姆	*mɯʔ, *mɯs, *maːʔ
畮	*mɯʔ
踇	*mɯʔ
苺	*mɯs, *mɯːʔ, *mɯːs
莓	*mɯs, *mɯː, *mɯːs
敏	*mrɯʔ, *mrɯŋʔ
鰵	*mrɯŋʔ
慜	*mrɯŋʔ
毋	*ma
梅	*mɯː
酶	*mɯː
鋂	*mɯː
每	*mɯːʔ
毎	*mɯːs
痗	*mɯːs, *hmɯːs
晦	*hmɯːs
誨	*hmɯːs
悔	*hmɯːʔ, *hmɯːs
霉	*mrɯl

Differentiated form of 女 with the addition of distinguishing dots. In the early oracle bone texts both words 女 (OC *naʔ, *nas, “woman”) and 母 were written as 女 (Yao, 1989, Liu, 2011, Huang, 2014). Part of this character appears in 乳.

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *mow (“woman, female”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): mǔ (mu³)

  (Zhuyin): ㄇㄨˇ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): mu³

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): му (mu, II)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): mou⁵

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): mu⁴

• Gan (Wiktionary): mu³
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): mû

  (Meixian, Guangdong): mu¹

• Jin (Wiktionary): mu²
• Northern Min (KCR): mǔ
• Eastern Min (BUC): mō̤ / mū
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): bú / bó / bó͘ / bió

  (Teochew, Peng'im): bho²

• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ⁶mu / ³mu / ¹mai / ³mai / ¹n / ⁴n / ⁶n / ⁴m / ³mo / ¹mo / ⁶mo / ³mou / ⁴mu / ³m / ¹m / ⁶meu
  • (Jinhua): ³m; ³mo
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): mo³

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)
    • Hanyu Pinyin: mǔ
    • Zhuyin: ㄇㄨˇ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: mǔ
    • Wade–Giles: mu³
    • Yale: mǔ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: muu
    • Palladius: му (mu)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mu²¹⁴/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: mu³
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: mu
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mu⁵³/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: му (mu, II)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mou⁵¹/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: mou⁵
    • Yale: móuh
    • Cantonese Pinyin: mou⁵
    • Guangdong Romanization: mou⁵
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mou̯¹³/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: mu⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ᵐbu²¹/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: mu³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mu²¹³/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: mû
    • Hakka Romanization System: mu^ˊ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: mu¹
    • Sinological IPA: /mu²⁴/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: mu¹
    • Sinological IPA: /mu⁴⁴/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)
    • Wiktionary: mu²
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /mu⁵³/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: mǔ
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mu²¹/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: mō̤ / mū
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mo³³/, /mu³³/

Note:

• mō̤ - “female; capital; suffix”;
• mū - “mother”.

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: bú
    • Tâi-lô: bú
    • Phofsit Daibuun: buo
    • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei): /bu⁵³/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /bu⁴¹/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /bu⁵⁵⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: bó
    • Tâi-lô: bó
    • Phofsit Daibuun: boir
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /bɤ⁴¹/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou, Taipei): /bo⁵³/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Yilan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: bó͘
    • Tâi-lô: bóo
    • Phofsit Daibuun: bor
    • IPA (Xiamen, Yilan): /bɔ⁵³/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /bɔ⁵⁵⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Lukang, Sanxia, Kinmen, Magong, Hsinchu, Taichung)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: bió
    • Tâi-lô: bió
    • Phofsit Daibuun: bioir
    • IPA (Lukang): /bio⁵⁵/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /bio⁵⁵⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /biɤ⁴¹/
    • IPA (Tainan): /biɤ⁵³/
    • IPA (Taipei, Kinmen): /bio⁵³/

Note:

• Xiamen:
  • bú - vernacular;
  • bó͘ - literary.
• Quanzhou:
  • bú, bó͘ - vernacular;
  • bió - literary.
• Zhangzhou:
  • bú - vernacular;
  • bó - literary.
• Taiwan:
  • bó - vernacular;
  • bió/bó͘, bú - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: bho²
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: bó
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /bo⁵²/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai, Jiading)
    • Wugniu: ⁶mu
    • MiniDict: mu^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³mu
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /mu²³/
    • Sinological IPA (Jiading): /mu¹³/
  • (Northern: Chongming, Haining, Hangzhou)
    • Wugniu: ³mu
    • MiniDict: 'mu^上
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /ʔmu⁴²⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Haining): /mu⁵³/
    • Sinological IPA (Hangzhou): /mu⁵³/
  • (Northern: Chongming)
    • Wugniu: ¹mai
    • MiniDict: 'mai^平
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /ʔmɛ⁵⁵/
  • (Northern: Chongming)
    • Wugniu: ³mai
    • MiniDict: 'mai^上
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /ʔmɛ⁴²⁴/
  • (Northern: Chongming)
    • Wugniu: ¹n
    • MiniDict: 'n^平
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /ʔn̩⁵⁵/
  • (Northern: Chongming)
    • Wugniu: ⁴n
    • MiniDict: n^上
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /ɦn̩²⁴²/
  • (Northern: Chongming)
    • Wugniu: ⁶n
    • MiniDict: n^去
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /ɦn̩³¹³/
  • (Northern: Jiading, Haining, Haiyan)
    • Wugniu: ⁴m
    • MiniDict: m^上
    • Sinological IPA (Jiading): /m̩¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Haining): /m̩⁴²/
    • Sinological IPA (Haiyan): /m̩²³²/
  • (Northern: Jiading, Tongxiang)
    • Wugniu: ³mo
    • MiniDict: 'mo^上
    • Sinological IPA (Jiading): /mo³⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Tongxiang): /mo⁵³/
  • (Northern: Suzhou)
    • Wugniu: ¹mo
    • MiniDict: 'mo^平
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /mo⁴⁴/
  • (Northern: Suzhou)
    • Wugniu: ⁶mo
    • MiniDict: mo^去
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /mo²³¹/
  • (Northern: Changzhou)
    • Wugniu: ³mou
    • MiniDict: 'mou^上
    • Sinological IPA (Changzhou): /mɤɯ⁴⁵/
  • (Northern: Jiaxing, Haining, Haiyan, Shaoxing)
    • Wugniu: ⁴mu
    • MiniDict: mu^上
    • Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /mu²¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Haining): /mu⁴²/
    • Sinological IPA (Haiyan): /mu²³²/
    • Sinological IPA (Shaoxing): /mu¹¹³/
  • (Northern: Tongxiang)
    • Wugniu: ³m
    • Sinological IPA (Tongxiang): /m̩⁵³/
  • (Northern: Haining)
    • Wugniu: ¹m
    • Sinological IPA (Haining): /m̩⁵⁵/
  • (Northern: Ningbo)
    • Wugniu: ⁶meu
    • MiniDict: meu^去
    • Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /mœʏ¹¹³/
  • (Jinhua)
    • Wugniu: ³m; ³mo
    • Sinological IPA (Jinhua): /m̩⁵³⁵/, /mo⁵³⁵/

Note: ¹mo - literary.

• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: mo³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /mo⁴¹/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 母
Mandarin	Beijing	/mu²¹⁴/
	Harbin	/mu²¹³/
	Tianjin	/mu¹³/
	Jinan	/mu⁵⁵/
	Qingdao	/mu⁵⁵/
	Zhengzhou	/mu⁵³/
	Xi'an	/mu⁵³/
	Xining	/mv̩⁵³/
	Yinchuan	/mu⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/mu⁴⁴²/
	Ürümqi	/mu⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/mu⁴²/ /moŋ⁴²/
	Chengdu	/mu⁵³/
	Guiyang	/mu⁴²/
	Kunming	/mu⁵³/
	Nanjing	/mu²¹²/
	Hefei	/mʊ²⁴/ /məŋ²⁴/
Jin	Taiyuan	/mu⁵³/
	Pingyao	/mu⁵³/
	Hohhot	/mu⁵³/ ～的 /məʔ⁰/ 外～娘
Wu	Shanghai	/mu²³/ /m̩²³/
	Suzhou	/mo⁵⁵/
	Hangzhou	/mu⁵³/
	Wenzhou	/mu³⁵/
Hui	Shexian	/mɔ³⁵/ /m̩³⁵/
	Tunxi	/m̩²⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/mo⁴¹/
	Xiangtan	/mo⁴²/
Gan	Nanchang	/mu²¹³/
Hakka	Meixian	/mu⁴⁴/
	Taoyuan	/mu²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/mou²³/
	Nanning	/mu²⁴/
	Hong Kong	/mou¹³/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/bɔ⁵³/ /bu⁵³/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/mo³²/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/mu²¹/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/bo⁵³/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/mu²¹³/ /mai²¹³/ 俗

---

• Middle Chinese: muwX

Rime
Character	母
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	明 (4)
Final (韻)	侯 (137)
Tone (調)	Rising (X)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	莫厚切
Baxter	muwX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/məuX/
Pan Wuyun	/məuX/
Shao Rongfen	/məuX/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/məwX/
Li Rong	/muX/
Wang Li	/məuX/
Bernhard Karlgren	/mə̯uX/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	mǒu
Expected Cantonese Reflex	mau5

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*məʔ/

  (Zhengzhang): /*mɯʔ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	母
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	mǔ
Middle Chinese	‹ muwX ›
Old Chinese	/*məʔ/ (? or *mˁoʔ)
English	mother
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	母
Reading #	1/1
No.	9288
Phonetic component	母
Rime group	之
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	母
Old Chinese	/*mɯʔ/

Definitions

母

1. mother

   Antonym: 父

   父母  ―  fùmǔ  ―  father and mother

   母子  ―  mǔzǐ  ―  mother and son

2. Used to address a female elder member of a family.

   Antonym: 父

   姑母  ―  gūmǔ  ―  father's sister

   祖母  ―  zǔmǔ  ―  grandmother

3. (of animal) female

   Synonym: 雌 (cí)

   Antonym: 公 (gōng)

   母牛  ―  mǔniú  ―  female cow

4. (figuratively, of instruments, tools, or connectors) female
5. pertaining to origin

   母校  ―  mǔxiào  ―  alma mater

6. a surname

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 媽媽 (“mum; mother”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		母, 娘
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		母親
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	媽媽, 媽, 娘, 母親
	Taiwan	媽媽, 媽
	Chengde	母親, 媽媽
	Chifeng	媽媽
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	媽, 媽媽
	Heihe	母親, 媽媽
	Qiqihar	媽媽
	Harbin	媽, 媽媽, 母親
	Jiamusi	母親, 媽媽
	Baicheng	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Changchun	媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Tonghua	媽媽, 媽
	Shenyang	媽媽, 母親, 額娘 dated, Manchus
	Jinzhou	母親, 媽媽, 媽
	Malaysia	媽媽, 媽
	Singapore	媽媽, 媽, 老媽 <>
Jilu Mandarin	Tianjin	媽媽, 娘
	Tangshan	母親, 媽媽
	Cangzhou	母親, 媽媽, 娘, 𫰎
	Baoding	母親, 媽媽, 媽
	Shijiazhuang	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Lijin	媽
	Jinan	媽, 媽媽, 娘
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Dalian	媽媽
	Dandong	母親, 媽媽
	Yantai	媽
	Yantai (Muping)	媽
	Qingdao	媽, 娘
	Zhucheng	媽媽, 媽, 娘
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	媽, 媽兒
	Lingbao	媽, 娘
	Jining	媽媽, 娘
	Wanrong	嬤
	Wanrong (Ronghe)	媽
	Linfen	媽
	Shangqiu	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Yuanyang	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Zhengzhou	媽, 娘
	Baihe	母親, 媽媽
	Xi'an	媽
	Baoji	母親, 媽, 娘
	Xining	阿媽, 媽媽, 姆媽
	Xuzhou	媽媽, 娘, 大兒, 母親
	Fuyang	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	媽, 母親, 媽媽
	Lanzhou	媽, 媽媽, 老媽 <>, 母親
	Dunhuang	媽媽, 媽
	Hami	媽媽
	Ürümqi	媽媽, 媽, 老娘 <>, 阿娘 Hui, 阿娘子 used with minorities, 母親
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	媽媽, 媽
	Nanchong	母親, 媽媽
	Dazhou	媽
	Hanyuan	母親, 媽媽
	Xichang	母親, 媽媽
	Zigong	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Chongqing	媽媽, 媽
	Wuhan	姆媽, 媽媽, 老娘 <>, 黎山老 slang, 孟子見 dated slang, 娘
	Yichang	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘, 大老
	Xiangyang	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Tianmen	母親, 媽媽, 娘, 姆媽
	Guiyang	媽, 老媽 <>, humorous
	Zunyi	母兒, 媽
	Bijie	媽
	Liping	媽
	Zhaotong	媽媽, 嬸嬸
	Dali	阿媽
	Kunming	媽, 媽媽, 母親
	Mengzi	媽媽
	Guilin	媽媽
	Liuzhou	阿媽, 媽, 娘老 <>, 老媽子 <>, 娘, 母親
	Jishou	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Changde	姆媽
	Hanzhong	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Mae Salong (Lancang)	阿媽, 媽媽
	Mae Sai (Tengchong)	媽
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	媽, 姆媽, 娘
	Yangzhou	媽媽, 姆媽, 老娘 <>, 母親
	Lianyungang	母親, 媽媽
	Lianshui	母親, 媽
	Nantong	姆媽, 娘嬭 dated, 母親
	Anqing	母親, 媽媽
	Wuhu	媽媽, 姆媽
	Hefei	媽, 媽爺
	Hong'an	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 大, 娘
Cantonese	Guangzhou	阿媽, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	Hong Kong	媽咪, 阿媽, 媽媽, 媽打, 老母 <>, 老媽子 <>
	Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou)	阿媽, 阿奶, 老母 <>
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou)	媽, 阿媽
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	阿奶, 阿仔
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	阿奶
	Macau	阿媽, 媽咪, 老母 <>
	Guangzhou (Xinjiao, Haizhu)	媽媽, 阿媽
	Guangzhou (Longxi, Liwan)	阿媽, 阿嫂
	Guangzhou (Huangpu)	阿媽, 阿娘, 阿大, 阿嬸
	Guangzhou (Xinshi, Baiyun)	阿媽, 阿嫂
	Guangzhou (Shijing, Baiyun)	阿媽, 阿嬸, 阿嫂
	Guangzhou (Jiangcun, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Longgui, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Renhe, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Zhuliao, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Zhongluotan, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Jiufo, Huangpu)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	阿媽, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	媽媽, 老母 <>
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	阿奶, 阿嬸, 老母 <>
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	阿奶, 阿嫂, 阿嬸, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	Foshan	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	阿嬸, 阿媽, 老母 <>
	Foshan (Shunde)	阿娘, 老母 <>
	Foshan (Sanshui)	阿媽, 阿家, 老母 <>
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	阿媽, 老母 <>, 母親 <>
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Taishan	阿媽, 媽, 老母 <>
	Kaiping (Chikan)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Enping (Niujiang)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Heshan (Yayao)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Dongguan	阿媽, 阿奶, 阿姐, 媽媽 childish, 媽咪 childish, 老母 <>, 老乸 <>, Changping
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	阿大, 阿媽, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	Shaoguan	阿媽, 老母
	Yunfu	老母, 阿媽
	Yangjiang	阿媽, 阿娘, 阿奶 <>
	Xinyi	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Lianjiang	阿媽, 老母, 媽媽
	Lianjiang (Cheban)	阿奶
	Wuchuan (Wuyang)	阿媽, 阿奶
	Wuchuan (Meilu)	老母
	Nanning	媽媽, 阿媽, 媽, 老乸 <>, 老娘 <>, 老媽子 <>
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	媽媽, 阿奶, 阿嬸, 俺乸 <>
	Hepu (Shatian)	媽媽
	Beihai	媽媽, 老奶 <>
	Beihai (Nankang)	阿媽, 阿奶, 阿娘 <>
	Beihai (Yingpan)	媽媽, 阿媽, 阿嬸, 老媽 <>
	Danzhou	母
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	阿媽, 媽咪, 老媽子 <>
	Singapore (Guangfu)	阿媽, 媽媽, 老母 <>
Gan	Nanchang	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Lichuan	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Pingxiang	姆媽, 娘老子 <>
Hakka	Meixian	阿姆, 阿嫲, 哀仔 <>
	Xingning	阿媽, 哀哩 <>
	Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua)	阿媽, 阿奶 <>
	Huidong (Daling)	阿姆, 媽
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	阿媽, 阿姆 <>
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	阿媽, 阿姆 <>
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	阿媽, 阿姆 <>
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	阿嫲, 阿娘, 阿姆
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	阿嫲, 阿娘, 阿姆, 哀哩
	Wuhua (Changbu)	阿媽, 阿姆
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	阿娘
	Wuhua (Meilin)	嫲, 阿嫲
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	阿媽
	Wengyuan	哀子, 阿姆
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	阿姆, 哀子 <>
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	阿姆, 阿嬸
	Liannan	姆, 媽
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	阿姆
	Jiexi	阿姆
	Raoping (Xinfeng)	阿姨, 阿禾 <>
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	阿奶
	Changting	姆媽, 姆娓, 哀哩 <>
	Wuping	姆姆, 依呀, 哀哩 <>
	Wuping (Yanqian)	哀哩
	Wuping (Pingyu)	姆, 哀子 <>
	Liancheng	姆, 哀 <>
	Ninghua	姆媽, 母
	Yudu	姆, 媽媽, 媽
	Ningdu	姐
	Ruijin	姆媽, 哀 <>, 乳子 <>
	Shicheng	姆媽, 哀 <>
	Shangyou (Shexi)	嫫, 姐佬 <>
	Tonggu (Sandu)	姆㜷
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	嬤
	Dayu	姐佬, 姆姆
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	阿姆, 哀仔 <>
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	阿姆, 唔媽, 哀仔 <>
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	阿姆, 哀仔 <>
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	阿姆, 哀 <>
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	阿姆, 哀仔 <>
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	阿依, 哀仔 <>
	Hong Kong	阿媽, 阿姆 <>
	Yangxi (Tangkou)	奶
	Yangchun (Sanjia)	阿媽
	Xinyi (Sihe)	老母, 老哀, 阿媽
	Xinyi (Qianpai)	阿媽, 哀子
	Gaozhou (Xindong)	阿媽
	Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai)	阿嬸, 阿奶, 阿嫂, 阿媽
	Huazhou (Xin'an)	哀子
	Lianjiang (Shijiao)	阿媽, 哀子, 阿奶
	Lianjiang (Qingping)	阿媽, 哀
	Mengshan (Xihe)	娘, 嫂
	Luchuan	阿姆
	Sabah (Longchuan)	阿姆
	Senai (Huiyang)	阿媽
	Singkawang	阿姆
Huizhou	Jixi	姆, 娘 <>
	Shexian	姆媽, 媽媽, 阿姨
Jin	Taiyuan	媽, 媽媽
	Yangyuan	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Datong	母親, 媽
	Xinzhou	波哇, 波波呀, 呀波呀, 波, 波波
	Lüliang (Lishi)	母親, 媽
	Changzhi	娘, 媽
	Linhe	母親, 媽媽, 媽
	Jining	媽媽
	Hohhot	母親, 媽媽
	Erenhot	母親, 媽媽
	Pingshan	母親, 娘
	Zhangjiakou	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Handan	母親, 娘
	Linzhou	娘
	Suide	媽
Northern Min	Jian'ou	依呀, 媽媽, 奶 <>
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	依媽, 依奶, 娘嬭 <>
	Fuqing	奶, 依奶, 媽媽, 依娜, 娘嬭 <>
	Matsu	依奶, 娘嬭 <>
	Singapore (Fuqing)	媽媽
Southern Min	Xiamen	阿母, 阿母仔, 母仔, 阿媽, 阿娘, 老母 <>, 娘嬭 <>
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	老母 <>, 俺母仔
	Quanzhou	阿母, 母仔, 阿娘, 老母 <>
	Hui'an	阿娘
	Zhangzhou	阿母, 母仔, 咉奶, 嘔傴 euphemistic, 老母 <>, 娘嬭 <>
	Taipei	阿母, 阿娘, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	阿母, 阿娘, 姨仔, 老母 <>
	Kaohsiung	卡桑, 阿母仔, 老母 <>
	Yilan	阿母, 阿娘, 老母 <>
	Changhua (Lukang)	阿母, 阿娘, 姨仔, 老母 <>
	Taichung	媽媽, 阿母, 老母 <>
	Tainan	歐卡桑, 阿母, 俺娘仔, 娘嬭, 老母 <>
	Hsinchu	媽媽, 阿娘, 阿母, 老母 <>
	Kinmen	俺娘仔, 老母 <>, 俺母 <>
	Penghu (Magong)	阿母, 老母 <>
	Penang (Hokkien)	阿母, 阿媽, 媽媽, 媽, 老母 <>
	Singapore (Hokkien)	阿母, 老母 <>
	Manila (Hokkien)	媽媽, 媽, 阿母, 母仔, 老母 <>
	Chaozhou	阿媽, 阿娘, 阿姈, 阿嬡 <>
	Shantou	阿媽, 阿嬡, 阿姈, 阿母, 嬡 <>, 母 <>
	Shantou (Chenghai)	阿媽, 嬡 <>, 母 <>
	Jieyang	阿媽, 阿嬡, 阿娘, 阿姈
	Haifeng	媽, 媽媽, 阿媽
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	阿媽, 媽媽, 媽 <>
	Singapore (Teochew)	阿媽, 阿嬡, 母 <>
	Leizhou	嬭, 嫂 dated, 姨 dated, 母 <>, 尼母 <>, 尼姨 <>, dated, 尼嫂 <>, dated
	Haikou	阿媽, 阿姐, 阿娘 dated, 阿嫂 dated, 母 <>
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	媽媽, 媽, 老母 <>
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	媽, 阿嫂, 阿嬸, 阿媼 dated, 老娘 <>
	Binyang	母親, 嬸
Wu	Shanghai	媽媽, 姆媽, 娘 <>
	Shanghai (Chongming)	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Suzhou	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Danyang	媽, 娘
	Hangzhou	姆媽, 媽媽, 娘 <>
	Ningbo	阿姆, 姆媽, 阿娘 <>, 老娘 <>
	Wenzhou	阿媽, 阿奶, 奶
	Jinhua	姆媽, 娘 <>
Xiang	Changsha	媽媽, 姆媽, 娘老子, 娘 <>
	Loudi	依爺, 姆媽, 娘老子, 娘 <>
	Shuangfeng	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Hengyang	姆媽 new-style, 娭毑 old-style, 娘 <>, 娘老倌 <>, 娘老倌子 <>
Note	<> - non-face-to-face

Dialectal synonyms of 媽媽 (“mum (non-face-to-face)”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		母, 娘
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		母親
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Taiwan	媽媽, 媽
	Harbin	媽, 媽媽
	Shenyang	媽媽
	Singapore	媽媽, 老媽, 媽
Jilu Mandarin	Tianjin	媽媽
	Jinan	媽, 媽媽, 娘
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Yantai (Muping)	媽
Central Plains Mandarin	Wanrong	嬤
	Wanrong (Ronghe)	媽
	Xi'an	媽
	Xining	阿媽, 媽媽, 姆媽
	Xuzhou	媽媽, 娘, 大兒
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	媽
	Lanzhou	媽, 老媽
	Ürümqi	老娘
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	媽媽, 媽
	Wuhan	姆媽, 媽媽, 老娘, 黎山老 slang, 孟子見 dated slang
	Guiyang	媽, 老媽 humorous
	Kunming	媽媽
	Liuzhou	媽, 阿媽, 娘老, 老媽子
	Mae Salong (Lancang)	阿媽, 媽媽
	Mae Sai (Tengchong)	媽
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	媽, 姆媽, 娘, 吾媽
	Yangzhou	媽媽, 姆媽, 老娘
	Nantong	娘嬭
	Hefei	媽, 媽爺
Cantonese	Guangzhou	老母, 阿媽
	Hong Kong	老母, 老媽子, 阿媽, 媽咪, 媽媽, 媽打
	Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou)	老母, 阿奶
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou)	阿媽, 媽
	Macau	老母
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	老母
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	老母
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	老母
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	老母
	Foshan	老母
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	老母
	Foshan (Shunde)	老母
	Foshan (Sanshui)	老母
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	老母, 母親
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	老母
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	老母
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	老母
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	老母
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	老母
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	老母
	Taishan	老母, 媽
	Kaiping (Chikan)	老母
	Enping (Niujiang)	老母
	Heshan (Yayao)	老母
	Dongguan	阿媽, 阿奶, 阿姐, 老母, 老乸 Changping, 媽媽 childish, 媽咪 childish
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	老母
	Shaoguan	老母
	Yunfu	老母
	Yangjiang	阿奶
	Xinyi	老母
	Nanning	媽, 老乸
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	俺乸
	Beihai	老奶
	Beihai (Nankang)	阿娘
	Beihai (Yingpan)	老媽, 阿嬸
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	老媽子
	Singapore (Guangfu)	老母, 阿媽
Gan	Nanchang	姆媽, 娘
	Lichuan	娘, 家母
	Pingxiang	姆媽, 娘老子
Hakka	Meixian	阿姆, 阿媽, 哀仔
	Xingning	哀哩, 阿媽
	Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua)	阿奶
	Huidong (Daling)	阿姆, 媽
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	阿姆
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	阿姆
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	阿姆
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	阿嫲, 阿娘, 阿姆
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	阿嫲, 阿娘, 阿姆, 哀哩
	Wuhua (Changbu)	阿媽, 阿姆
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	阿娘
	Wuhua (Meilin)	阿嫲
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	哀子
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	阿姆
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	阿姆
	Changting	哀哩
	Wuping	哀哩
	Wuping (Pingyu)	哀子
	Liancheng	哀
	Ninghua	姆媽
	Ruijin	哀, 乳子
	Shicheng	哀
	Shangyou (Shexi)	姐佬
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	哀仔
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	哀仔
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	哀仔
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	哀
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	哀仔
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	哀
	Hong Kong	阿姆
	Singkawang	哀
Huizhou	Jixi	姆, 娘
Jin	Taiyuan	媽媽, 媽
	Xinzhou	波, 波波
Northern Min	Jian'ou	奶
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	娘嬭
	Fuqing	娘嬭
	Matsu	娘嬭
Southern Min	Xiamen	老母, 娘嬭, 阿娘
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	老母
	Quanzhou	老母, 阿娘
	Jinjiang	老母
	Zhangzhou	老母, 娘嬭, 豬母 humorous
	Taipei	老母
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	老母
	Kaohsiung	老母
	Yilan	老母
	Changhua (Lukang)	老母
	Taichung	老母, 媽媽
	Tainan	老母
	Hsinchu	老母
	Kinmen	老母, 俺母
	Penghu (Magong)	老母
	Penang (Hokkien)	老母
	Singapore (Hokkien)	老母
	Manila (Hokkien)	老母
	Chaozhou	阿嬡
	Shantou	嬡, 母, 阿嬡, 阿姈, 阿母
	Shantou (Chenghai)	嬡, 母
	Haifeng	媽, 媽媽
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	阿媽, 媽
	Singapore (Teochew)	母, 老母
	Leizhou	嬭, 母, 尼母, 尼姨 dated, 尼嫂 dated
	Haikou	母
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	老母, 媽媽, 媽咪
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	媽, 老娘, 嫂, 嬸, 阿媼 dated
	Binyang	母親, 嬸
Wu	Shanghai	娘
	Shanghai (Chongming)	娘
	Suzhou	娘, 姆媽
	Danyang	媽, 娘
	Hangzhou	姆媽, 媽媽, 娘
	Ningbo	阿娘, 老娘
	Wenzhou	阿媽, 阿奶, 奶
	Jinhua	娘
Xiang	Changsha	媽媽, 娘, 姆媽, 娘老子
	Loudi	依爺, 姆媽, 娘, 娘老子
	Shuangfeng	姆媽, 娘
	Hengyang	娘, 娘老倌, 娘老倌子

Compounds

• 丁母憂／丁母忧 (dīngmǔyōu)
• 丈母 (zhàngmǔ)
• 三母
• 丈母娘
• 三父八母
• 世母
• 丹母
• 主人母
• 主母
• 九子母
• 九子魔母
• 乳母 (rǔmǔ)
• 乾酵母／干酵母
• 亡母 (wángmǔ)
• 介母
• 令母
• 代母 (dàimǔ)
• 佛母 (fómǔ)
• 伯母 (bómǔ)
• 伯祖母 (bózǔmǔ)
• 保母 (bǎomǔ)
• 倡母
• 修母畫荻／修母画荻 (xiū mǔ huàdí)
• 假母
• 傅年父母
• 傅母
• 先母 (xiānmǔ)
• 兒母／儿母
• 公分母
• 公母 (gōngmǔ)
• 公母倆／公母俩 (gōngmuliǎ)
• 公祖父母
• 公筷母匙 (gōngkuàimǔchí)
• 再生父母 (zàishēngfùmǔ)
• 凡母
• 出母
• 分母 (fēnmǔ)
• 前母
• 勝母／胜母
• 勤母
• 十母
• 升堂拜母
• 半母音 (bànmǔyīn)
• 叔丈母
• 叔母 (shūmǔ)
• 叔祖母 (shūzǔmǔ)
• 召父杜母
• 同母
• 名母
• 吉祥天母
• 君母
• 哲母
• 喜母
• 單韻母／单韵母 (dānyùnmǔ)
• 嗣母
• 嗣父母
• 嚴母掃墓／严母扫墓
• 四郎探母
• 因母
• 國母／国母 (guómǔ)
• 國音字母／国音字母
• 地母
• 堯母門／尧母门
• 壽母／寿母
• 外母 (wàimǔ)
• 外王母 (wàiwángmǔ)
• 外祖母 (wàizǔmǔ)
• 大母
• 大母指
• 大老母
• 天下母
• 天上聖母／天上圣母 (Tiānshàng Shèngmǔ)
• 天仙聖母／天仙圣母
• 天地母
• 太師母／太师母
• 太母
• 契母
• 奶母 (nǎimǔ)
• 妗母 (jìnmǔ)
• 妒母
• 妒母草
• 姏母
• 姆母
• 姑母 (gūmǔ)
• 姨母 (yímǔ)
• 姻母
• 娘母
• 娘母子
• 婆母 (pómǔ)
• 嫁母
• 媵母
• 嫡母 (dímǔ)
• 嫫母 (mómǔ)
• 嬰母／婴母
• 嬭母／奶母
• 嬸母／婶母 (shěnmǔ)
• 孀母
• 子母
• 子母印
• 子母彈／子母弹
• 子母扣 (zǐmǔkòu)
• 子母扣兒／子母扣儿 (zǐmǔkòur)
• 子母牛
• 子母環／子母环
• 子母相權／子母相权
• 子母竹
• 子母筒
• 子母箋／子母笺
• 子母舟
• 子母船
• 子母錢／子母钱
• 子母鐘／子母钟
• 子母雷
• 字母 (zìmǔ)
• 孟母 (Mèngmǔ)
• 季母
• 孟母三遷／孟母三迁 (mèngmǔsānqiān)
• 孟母擇鄰／孟母择邻
• 孟母斷織／孟母断织
• 季祖母
• 孳母
• 學而名母／学而名母
• 守母
• 宗母
• 宜母子 (yímǔzǐ)
• 宜母果
• 官話字母／官话字母
• 家主母
• 家母 (jiāmǔ)
• 家祖母
• 寄母 (jìmǔ)
• 寡母
• 寶母／宝母
• 小老母
• 少母
• 屠母
• 岳母 (yuèmǔ)
• 工作母機／工作母机 (gōngzuò mǔjī)
• 布母
• 布母繜／布母𰬺
• 希臘字母／希腊字母
• 帝母
• 師母／师母 (shīmǔ)
• 床母
• 庶母 (shùmǔ)
• 弒母／弑母 (shìmǔ)
• 後母／后母 (hòumǔ)
• 徐母罵曹／徐母骂曹
• 從母／从母 (cóngmǔ)
• 從母昆弟／从母昆弟
• 從母晜弟／从母晜弟
• 從祖叔母／从祖叔母
• 從祖母／从祖母
• 從祖祖母／从祖祖母
• 微母閭／微母闾
• 思婦病母／思妇病母
• 恩同父母
• 慈母 (címǔ)
• 慈母服
• 戀母情結／恋母情结 (liànmǔ qíngjié)
• 手指字母
• 拉丁字母 (Lādīng Zìmǔ)
• 拜母
• 指心戀母／指心恋母
• 拳母
• 拼音字母 (pīnyīn zìmǔ)
• 捲舌韻母／卷舌韵母
• 啟母石／启母石
• 文母
• 斗母元君
• 族曾王母
• 族曾祖母
• 族母
• 族父母
• 族祖母
• 族祖父母
• 日母
• 旱母
• 晚母
• 智母
• 曾母投杼
• 曾母暗沙 (Zēngmǔ Ànshā)
• 曾祖母 (zēngzǔmǔ)
• 曾祖王母
• 月母
• 木公金母
• 木母
• 杜母
• 權子母／权子母
• 歐母／欧母
• 歐母畫荻／欧母画荻 (ōu mǔ huàdí)
• 歧母
• 母主
• 母以子貴／母以子贵 (mǔyǐzǐguì)
• 母位
• 母儀／母仪 (mǔyí)
• 母儀天下／母仪天下
• 母儀足式／母仪足式
• 母兄 (mǔxiōng)
• 母兒／母儿
• 母匙
• 母后 (mǔhòu)
• 母君
• 母哈赤
• 母喪／母丧
• 母國／母国 (mǔguó)
• 母夜叉 (mǔyèchā)
• 母大蟲／母大虫
• 母夫人
• 母女 (mǔnǚ)
• 母妹
• 母姊妹
• 母姊會／母姊会
• 母婦／母妇
• 母子 (mǔzǐ)
• 母字
• 母家
• 母屋
• 母師／母师
• 母帶／母带 (mǔdài)
• 母弟 (mǔdì)
• 母弦
• 母德
• 母性 (mǔxìng)
• 母性愛／母性爱
• 母愛／母爱 (mǔ'ài)
• 母慈
• 母慈子孝
• 母憂／母忧
• 母敕
• 母教
• 母斑
• 母族
• 母昆
• 母服
• 母本 (mǔběn)
• 母株
• 母校 (mǔxiào)
• 母機／母机 (mǔjī)
• 母權／母权 (mǔquán)
• 母權制／母权制 (mǔquánzhì)
• 母權子／母权子
• 母母
• 母氏
• 母氣／母气
• 母法
• 母猴 (mǔhóu)
• 母獅子／母狮子
• 母筍／母笋
• 母範／母范 (mǔfàn)
• 母系 (mǔxì)
• 母系制度
• 母老子幼
• 母老虎 (mǔlǎohǔ)
• 母胎
• 母臨／母临
• 母舅 (mǔjiù)
• 母舌
• 母艦／母舰 (mǔjiàn)
• 母艱／母艰
• 母草
• 母親／母亲 (mǔqīn)
• 母親節／母亲节 (mǔqīnjié)
• 母語／母语 (mǔyǔ)
• 母語人士／母语人士 (mǔyǔ rénshì)
• 母財／母财
• 母道
• 母金
• 母錢／母钱
• 母陀
• 母陀羅／母陀罗
• 母雞／母鸡 (mǔjī)
• 母難日／母难日
• 母音 (mǔyīn)
• 母題／母题 (mǔtí)
• 母養／母养
• 母體／母体 (mǔtǐ)
• 母黨／母党
• 民母
• 氣母／气母
• 水母 (shuǐmǔ)
• 水母目蝦／水母目虾 (shuǐmǔ mù xiā)
• 泥母
• 海月水母 (hǎiyué shuǐmǔ)
• 海蛇水母
• 淳母
• 滂母
• 漂母
• 漂母進食／漂母进食
• 漂母進飯／漂母进饭
• 漂母飧
• 濁母／浊母
• 濁聲母／浊声母
• 火母
• 無母／无母
• 父天母地
• 父母 (fùmǔ)
• 父母之命
• 父母之邦
• 父母國／父母国
• 父母子女
• 父母官 (fùmǔguān)
• 父母恩勤
• 父母雙亡／父母双亡
• 父母骨肉
• 父精母血
• 爸母
• 物母
• 猦母
• 王母 (wángmǔ)
• 王母使者
• 王母娘娘 (Wángmǔ Niángniang)
• 王母桃
• 王母蟠桃
• 珍珠母 (zhēnzhūmǔ)
• 珠母
• 瑤母／瑶母
• 瑤池金母／瑶池金母
• 生母 (shēngmǔ)
• 生母魚／生母鱼
• 產母／产母 (chǎnmǔ)
• 產母癆／产母痨
• 異母／异母 (yìmǔ)
• 異母兄弟／异母兄弟 (yìmǔ xiōngdì)
• 病母
• 瘧母／疟母
• 瘴母
• 白雲母／白云母 (báiyúnmǔ)
• 益母 (yìmǔ)
• 益母草 (yìmǔcǎo)
• 目蓮救母／目莲救母
• 目連救母／目连救母
• 真母
• 真珠母
• 石母
• 祖庶母
• 祖母 (zǔmǔ)
• 神母
• 神母夜哭
• 神母夜號／神母夜号
• 祖母綠／祖母绿 (zǔmǔlǜ)
• 祖父母 (zǔfùmǔ)
• 禍母／祸母
• 穀父蠶母／谷父蚕母
• 竹母
• 節母／节母
• 結合韻母／结合韵母
• 綦母
• 縣父母／县父母
• 繼母／继母 (jìmǔ)
• 續母／续母
• 羅馬字母／罗马字母 (Luómǎ Zìmǔ)
• 義母／义母 (yìmǔ)
• 翁母
• 老母
• 老母雞／老母鸡 (lǎomǔjī)
• 老父母
• 聖母／圣母 (shèngmǔ)
• 聖母像／圣母像
• 聖母峰／圣母峰 (Shèngmǔ Fēng)
• 聖母帖／圣母帖
• 聖母神皇／圣母神皇
• 聲母／声母 (shēngmǔ)
• 胥母
• 胡母
• 胡母敬
• 舅母 (jiùmǔ)
• 航空母艦／航空母舰 (hángkōng mǔjiàn)
• 芋母
• 茸母
• 蓐母
• 薄母
• 薑母鴨／姜母鸭 (jiāngmǔyā)
• 蚨母
• 蚊母
• 蚊母木
• 蚊母樹／蚊母树
• 蚊母草
• 蚊母鳥／蚊母鸟
• 蛇母
• 蚳母
• 蛈母
• 蛇舅母
• 蛇醫母／蛇医母
• 蜃母樓／蜃母楼
• 蜜母
• 蝭母
• 螺母 (luómǔ)
• 螺絲母／螺丝母 (luósīmǔ)
• 蠡母
• 蠶母／蚕母
• 衣食父母 (yīshífùmǔ)
• 複合韻母／复合韵母
• 褓母 (bǎomǔ)
• 複韻母／复韵母
• 西母
• 西池金母
• 西王母 (Xīwángmǔ)
• 親家母／亲家母 (qìngjiamǔ)
• 親母／亲母 (qīnmǔ)
• 親生父母／亲生父母
• 訶利帝母／诃利帝母
• 誼母／谊母
• 諶母／谌母
• 諸母／诸母
• 貝母／贝母 (bèimǔ)
• 貞母／贞母
• 貧母／贫母
• 賢妻良母／贤妻良母 (xiánqīliángmǔ)
• 賢母良妻／贤母良妻 (xiánmǔliángqī)
• 趙母／赵母
• 連母／连母
• 遁母
• 適母／适母
• 鄰母／邻母
• 酒母 (jiǔmǔ)
• 酢母
• 酸母
• 酵母 (jiàomǔ)
• 酵母菌
• 醋母
• 醋母草
• 釀母菌／酿母菌 (niàngmǔjūn)
• 重生父母
• 金母
• 金雲母／金云母
• 鉛母／铅母
• 銀母／银母
• 鋪母／铺母
• 開母／开母
• 阿母 (āmǔ)
• 阿母子
• 陶母
• 陵母伏劍／陵母伏剑
• 陵母知興／陵母知兴
• 陶母邀賓／陶母邀宾
• 隔母
• 雞母珠／鸡母珠
• 離母／离母
• 雲母／云母 (yúnmǔ)
• 雲母冠／云母冠
• 雲母帳／云母帐
• 雲母竹／云母竹
• 雲母粥／云母粥
• 雲母舟／云母舟
• 雲母車／云母车
• 雲母輦／云母辇
• 雲母鱗／云母鳞
• 電母／电母 (Diànmǔ)
• 零聲母／零声母 (língshēngmǔ)
• 靈母／灵母
• 非母語人士／非母语人士 (fēi-mǔyǔ rénshì)
• 革命之母
• 韻母／韵母 (yùnmǔ)
• 頑父嚚母／顽父嚚母
• 風母／风母
• 颶母／飓母
• 食母
• 養母／养母 (yǎngmǔ)
• 養身父母／养身父母
• 馬母／马母
• 驪山老母／骊山老母
• 驪母／骊母
• 高祖母 (gāozǔmǔ)
• 高祖王母
• 鬼子母
• 鬼母
• 鴇母／鸨母 (bǎomǔ)
• 鴨母／鸭母
• 鴨母船／鸭母船
• 鴾母／𱉲母
• 鸚母／鹦母
• 麻母芝
• 黃母／黄母
• 黎母
• 黎母國／黎母国
• 黎母山
• 黑雲母／黑云母
• 鼠母
• 鼻韻母／鼻韵母 (bíyùnmǔ)
• 龍母／龙母

 

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (母):

• → Vietnamese: mẫu (母)

References

• “母”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A02098

Japanese

Kanji

母

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: む (mu)、も (mo)
• Kan-on: ぼう (bō)
• Kan’yō-on: ぼ (bo, Jōyō)
• Kun: はは (haha, 母, Jōyō)^{←はは (fafa, 母, historical)}、はわ (hawa, 母)^{←はは (fafa, 母, historical)}、は (ha, 母)、あも (amo, 母)、おも (omo, 母)、かか (kaka, 母)、かあ (kā, 母)

Compounds

Compounds

• 母(ぼ)語(ご) (bogo, “mother tongue”)
• 父(ふ)母(ぼ) (fubo, “both parents; one's father and mother”)
• 酵(こう)母(ぼ) (kōbo, “yeast”)
• 教(きょう)母(ぼ) (kyōbo, “godmother”)
• 代(だい)母(ぼ) (daibo, “godmother”)
• 親(しん)母(ぼ) (shinbo, “one's own mother”)
• 貝(ばい)母(も) (baimo)

Usage notes

In isolation, the character 母 has 5 strokes in modern Japanese – it is not simplified. In shinjitai compound characters, such as 毎 or 海, it is simplified to 4 strokes, as 毋. In hyōgaiji characters such as 姆, however, the component is not simplified.

Alternative forms

• 嚊, 嬶

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
母
はは Grade: 2
kun'yomi

From Old Japanese.

/haha/: */papa/ → /fafa/ → /fawa/ → /fafa/ → /haha/.

Medial /f/ [ɸ] regularly changes to /w/ [ɰᵝ], resulting in /fawa/ → /hawa/, the expected final form; see hawa below. This form first appears in the Heian period. However, likely due to spelling influence or reduplication associations, the earlier /fafa/ resurfaced in the late 16th century towards the end of the Muromachi period, with both forms seen until recent times, when hawa falls into disuse. Initial /f-/ [ɸ] regularly becomes [h], resulting in modern [ha̠ha̠].

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) はは [háꜜhà] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ha̠ha̠]

Noun

母(はは) • (haha) ^{←はは (fafa)?}

1. mother

   織(お)田(だ)信(のぶ)長(なが)の母(はは)は謎(なぞ)が多(おお)い。

   Oda Nobunaga no haha wa nazo ga ōi.

   Oda Nobunaga's mother was a mysterious woman.

   • 938, Minamoto no Shitagō, Wamyō Ruijushō, volume 1, page 116:

     母 尔雅云、母爲妣、卑履反、去聲之重、和名波々、日本紀私記云、以路波

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1603, Vocabvlario da Lingoa de Iapam (Nippo Jisho) [Vocabulary of the Language of Japan] (in Portuguese), Nagasaki, page 196:

     Fafa. l, faua. ハハ. または、ハワ(母) 母.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

• This term conveys neither positive nor negative connotations. However, using it to describe someone the speaker knows personally is often considered lacking respect, where more polite forms like お母(かあ)さん (okāsan) are preferred.
• This term is sometimes used in objective narrations, but for this purpose, 母(はは)親(おや) (hahaoya) is more common.

Coordinate terms

• 父(ちち) (chichi, “father”)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 母(はは)上(うえ) (hahaue, “mother (when addressing one's own mother)”)
• 母(はは)親(おや) (hahaoya, “mother”)
• 母(はは)方(かた) (hahakata, “a relative on one's mother's side”)
• 母(はは)君(ぎみ) (hahagimi, “mother (when addressing one's own mother; more honorific than 母(はは)上(うえ))”)
• 母(はは)子(こ) (hahako, “mother and child”)
• 母(はは)御(ご) (hahago, “mother (when addressing someone else's mother)”)
• 母(はは)御(ご)前(ぜん) (hahagozen, “mother (when addressing someone else's mother)”)
• 母(はは)島(じま) (Hahajima, “the main island of the Ogasawara Islands”)
• 母(はは)者(じゃ) (hahaja, “a person who is a mother: a term of endearment”)
• 母(はは)者(じゃ)人(ひと) (hahaja hito, “a person who is a mother: a term of endearment”)
• 母(はは)刀(と)自(じ) (hahatoji, “mother (honorific)”)
• 母(はは)の日(ひ) (Haha no Hi, “Mother's Day”)
• 母(はは)御(み)息(やす)所(どころ) (haha miyasudokoro, “an imperial concubine or other female member of the imperial household who is also a mother”)
• 母(はは)物(もの) (hahamono, “a book, play, or other entertainment in which motherly love is a central theme”)
• 生(う)みの母(はは) (umi no haha), 産(う)みの母(はは) (umi no haha, “birth mother”)
• 国(くに)の母(はは) (kuni no haha, “emperor's mother; (figuratively) the mother of the country”)
• 代(だい)理(り)母(はは) (dairi haha, “foster mother”)
• 父(ちち)母(はは) (chichi haha, “one's own parents”)
• 父(てて)母(はは) (tete haha, “one's own parents (uncommon)”)
• 法(ほう)師(し)が母(はは) (Hōshi ga Haha, “the title of a 狂(きょう)言(げん) (kyōgen), a short farcical performance played as an intermission in a noh play”)
• 瞼(まぶた)の母(はは) (mabuta no haha, “the image of one's mother in dreams or memory, such as when one's mother is far away or has passed away”)
• 継(まま)母(はは) (mamahaha, “stepmother, foster mother”)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
母
はわ Grade: 2
kun'yomi

From Old Japanese, the phonologically expected development. See etymology for haha above for details.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ha̠β̞a̠]

Noun

母(はわ) • (hawa) ^{←はは (fafa)?}

1. (humble) mother
   • 1603, Vocabvlario da Lingoa de Iapam (Nippo Jisho) [Vocabulary of the Language of Japan] (in Portuguese), Nagasaki, page 213:

     Faua. ハワ (母) 母親.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1603, Vocabvlario da Lingoa de Iapam (Nippo Jisho) [Vocabulary of the Language of Japan] (in Portuguese), Nagasaki, page 196:

     Fafa. l, faua. ハハ. または、ハワ(母) 母.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1603, Vocabvlario da Lingoa de Iapam (Nippo Jisho) [Vocabulary of the Language of Japan] (in Portuguese), Nagasaki, page 71:

     Caca. カカ (かか) Faua (母)に同じ. 母. これは子供の言葉である. また、尊敬すべき婦人、あるいは、年長で一家の主婦のような婦人の意に取られる.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1603, Vocabvlario da Lingoa de Iapam (Nippo Jisho) [Vocabulary of the Language of Japan] (in Portuguese), Nagasaki, page 60:

     Bogui. ボギ (母儀) Faua (母)に同じ. 母.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

Obsolete in mainstream Japanese. May persist in dialects.

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
母
は Grade: 2
kun'yomi

From Old Japanese. Possibly an abbreviation of haha, or possibly the original form.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ha̠]

Noun

母(は) • (ha) 

1. (obsolete) mother
   • 938, Minamoto no Shitagō, Wamyō Ruijushō, volume 1, page 116:

     母 尔雅云、母爲妣、卑履反、去聲之重、和名波々、日本紀私記云、以路波

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

Not found in isolation, only found in compounds. Obsolete and unused in modern Japanese.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 父(かぞ)母(いろは) (kazoiroha, “one's own parents”)
• いろは (iroha, “one's own mother”)

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
母
あも Grade: 2
kun'yomi

From Old Japanese. Obsolete and unused in modern Japanese. Already falling into disuse by the writing of the Man'yōshū in 759, where it is only found in pieces written in eastern dialects. Possibly cognate with Korean 엄마 (eomma, “mother”), 어머니 (eomeoni, “mother”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [a̠mo̞]

Noun

母(あも) • (amo) 

1. (obsolete) mother
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 20, poem 4376:

     多妣由岐尓 由久等之良受弖 阿母志々尓 己等麻乎佐受弖 伊麻叙久夜之氣

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 20, poem 4377:

     阿母刀自母 多麻尓母賀母夜 伊多太伎弖 美都良乃奈可尓 阿敝麻可麻久母

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 20, poem 4378:

     都久比夜波 須具波由氣等毛 阿母志々可 多麻乃須我多波 和須例西奈布母

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 20, poem 4383:

     都乃久尓乃 宇美能奈伎佐尓 布奈餘曽比 多志埿毛等伎尓 阿母我米母我母

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 母(あも)父(しし) (amoshishi, “one's parents (obsolete; eastern dialect)”)
• 母(あも)刀自(とじ) (amotoji, “mother (honorific; obsolete; eastern dialect)”)

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
母
おも Grade: 2
kun'yomi

From Old Japanese. Obsolete and unused in modern Japanese. Appears to be an alteration from amo above.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [o̞mo̞]

Noun

母(おも) • (omo) 

1. (obsolete) mother
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 20, poem 4386:

     和加々都乃 以都母等夜奈枳 以都母々々々 於母加古比須々 奈理麻之都之母

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 20, poem 4401:

     可良己呂武 須宗尓等里都伎 奈苦古良乎 意伎弖曽伎怒也 意母奈之尓志弖

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 20, poem 4402:

     知波夜布留 賀美乃美佐賀尓 奴佐麻都里 伊波布伊能知波 意毛知々我多米

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. a woman who breastfeeds and raises a child in place of a parent: a wet nurse
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 12, poem 2925:

     緑児之 為社乳母者 求云 乳飲哉君之 於毛求覧

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Synonyms

• (wet nurse): 乳(う)母(ば) (uba)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 母(おも)父(ちち) (omochichi, “one's parents”)
• 母(おも)調(ちょう)子(し) (omo chōshi, “the main or thematic key in a piece of 雅(が)楽(がく) (gagaku) music”)
• 母(おも)刀自(とじ) (omotoji, “mother (honorific)”)
• 母(おも)同(はら)胞(から) (omoharakara, “a sibling from the same mother”)
• 母(おも)屋(や) (omoya), 母(おも)家(や) (omoya, “main residence in a manor; main or central building in a palace; main household in an extended family; main store in a chain”)
• 母(おも)良(ら) (omora, “in ancient times, a woman serving at the Ise Grand Shrine”)

Etymology 6

Kanji in this term
母
かか Grade: 2
kun'yomi

Unknown. One theory holds that this is a corrupted and abbreviated form of 御方様 (okatasama), a term to refer to or address someone else's wife (now extremely formal, but much more everyday in the Edo period), possibly influenced by children's speech:

/okatasama/ → /katasama/ → /kakasama/ → /kaka/

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka̠ka̠]

Noun

母(かか) • (kaka) 

1. (childish) mommy, mummy
   • 1603, Vocabvlario da Lingoa de Iapam (Nippo Jisho) [Vocabulary of the Language of Japan] (in Portuguese), Nagasaki, page 71:

     Caca. カカ (かか) Faua (母)に同じ. 母. これは子供の言葉である. また、尊敬すべき婦人、あるいは、年長で一家の主婦のような婦人の意に取られる.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (obsolete) wife

   Seen in the Edo period among the lower socioeconomic classes. Used to refer both to one's own wife when talking to others, and to refer to someone else's wife.

Derived terms

Derived terms

Etymology 7

Kanji in this term
母
かあ Grade: 2
kun'yomi

Alteration of kaka: /kaka/ → /-kka/ → /kaː/

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka̠ː]

Noun

母(かあ) • (kā) 

1. mother

Usage notes

Almost never seen in isolation. Most commonly seen with honorific prefix o- and honorific suffix -san, as お母(かあ)さん (okāsan).

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 母(かあ)さん (kāsan) (informal form of address; would only be used when addressing one's own mother)
• 母(かあ)ちゃん (kāchan) (childish, informal form of address; used when addressing one's own mother)
• お母(かあ) (okā) (informal form of address; would only be used when addressing one's own mother)
• お母(かあ)さん (okāsan) (most common term; could be used to address or refer to one's own mother, or to refer to someone else's mother)

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 母 (MC muwX).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	무ᇢ〯 (Yale: mwǔw)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
	Gloss (hun)	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527[2]	어〮미〮 (Yale: émí)	모〯 (Yale: mwǒ)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [mo̞(ː)]
• Phonetic hangul: [모(ː)]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Wikisource

母 (eumhun 어미 모 (eomi mo))

1. hanja form^? of 모 (“mother”)

Compounds

Compounds

• 고모 (姑母, gomo)
• 노모 (老母, nomo)
• 모교 (母校, mogyo)
• 모국 (母國, moguk)
• 모선 (母船, moseon)
• 모성 (母性, moseong)
• 모유 (母乳, moyu)
• 모음 (母音, mo'eum)
• 모태 (母胎, motae)
• 모함 (母艦, moham)
• 부모 (父母, bumo)
• 분모 (分母, bunmo)
• 산모 (産母, sanmo)
• 운모 (雲母, unmo)
• 이모 (姨母, imo)
• 자모 (字母, jamo)
• 효모 (酵母, hyomo)
• 현모양처 (賢母良妻, hyeonmoyangcheo)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [3]

Old Japanese

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 母 (MC muwX).

Phonogram

母 (mo₂)

1. Denotes phonographic syllable mo₂.

Further reading

• Miyake (2003) p. 259

Vietnamese

Han character

母: Hán Việt readings: mẫu
母: Nôm readings: mẫu, mẹ

1. chữ Hán form of mẫu (“mother”).

Compounds

• 乳母 (nhũ mẫu)
• 保母 (bảo mẫu)
• 岳母 (nhạc mẫu)
• 師母 (sư mẫu)
• 慈母 (từ mẫu)
• 母國 (mẫu quốc)
• 母子 (mẫu tử)
• 母數 (mẫu số)
• 母系 (mẫu hệ)
• 母親 (mẫu thân)
• 父母 (phụ mẫu)
• 祖母 (tổ mẫu)
• 義母 (nghĩa mẫu)
• 聖母 (Thánh Mẫu)
• 親母 (thân mẫu)