Usage note
“外婆”是妈妈的妈妈，也就是我们的外祖母。
“Wài pó” shì māma de māma, yě jiùshì wǒmen de wàizǔmǔ.
"Maternal grandmother" is mom's mom, that is, our maternal grandmother.
Context note
我们叫妈妈的妈妈“外婆”，她总是很温柔。
Wǒmen jiào māma de māma “wài pó”, tā zǒng shì hěn wēnróu.
We call mom's mom "maternal grandmother", and she is always very gentle.
5 examples
外婆给我织了一件毛衣。
wài pó gěi wǒ zhī le yí jiàn máo yī。
Maternal grandmother knitted me a sweater.
我和外婆一起做饼干。
wǒ hé wài pó yì qǐ zuò bǐng gān。
I make cookies with maternal grandmother.
外婆的故事很有趣。
wài pó de gù shì hěn yǒu qù。
Maternal grandmother's stories are very interesting.
外婆种了很多蔬菜。
wài pó zhǒng le hěn duō shū cài。
Maternal grandmother planted many vegetables.
外婆喜欢唱歌。
wài pó xǐ huan chàng gē。
Maternal grandmother likes to sing.
5 mini stories
外婆带我去超市。外婆给我买了糖果。
wài pó dài wǒ qù chāo shì。 wài pó gěi wǒ mǎi le táng guǒ。
Maternal grandmother took me to the supermarket. Maternal grandmother bought me candy.
外婆教我包饺子。外婆包的饺子很好看。
wài pó jiào wǒ bāo jiǎo zǐ。 wài pó bāo de jiǎo zǐ hěn hǎo kàn。
Maternal grandmother taught me to make dumplings. The dumplings maternal grandmother made look very nice.
外婆的眼镜是红色的。外婆戴着眼镜看书。
wài pó de yǎn jìng shì hóng sè de。 wài pó dài zhuó yǎn jìng kàn shū。
Maternal grandmother's glasses are red. Maternal grandmother wears glasses to read.
外婆在花园里浇水。外婆的花园很美丽。
wài pó zài huā yuán lǐ jiāo shuǐ。 wài pó de huā yuán hěn měi lì。
Maternal grandmother waters the garden. Maternal grandmother's garden is very beautiful.
外婆给我讲了一个故事。故事里有一只小兔子。
wài pó gěi wǒ jiǎng le yí gè gù shì。 gù shì lǐ yǒu yì zhī xiǎo tù zi。
Maternal grandmother told me a story. The story has a little rabbit.
Mini dialogue
Visiting Grandma
A
你周末要去哪里？
Nǐ zhōumò yào qù nǎlǐ?
Where are you going this weekend?
B
我要去看外婆。
Wǒ yào qù kàn wàipó.
I'm going to visit my maternal grandmother.
Grandma's Cooking
A
外婆做的菜好吃吗？
Wàipó zuò de cài hǎochī ma?
Is the food grandma makes delicious?
B
非常好吃，我最喜欢外婆的饺子。
Fēicháng hǎochī, wǒ zuì xǐhuān wàipó de jiǎozi.
Very delicious, I love grandma's dumplings the most.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
奶奶
nǎi nai
paternal grandmother
奶奶 is father's mother, while 外婆 is mother's mother.
related
祖父
zǔ fù
grandfather (formal)
祖父 is a formal term for grandfather, related to grandmother.
related
外祖父
wài zǔ fù
maternal grandfather
外祖父 is the maternal grandfather, counterpart to 外婆.