伯母 bómǔ wife of father's elder brother
wife of father's elder brother; aunt; polite form of address for a woman who is about the age of one's mother
How to remember 伯母: 伯 older brother + 母 mother = wife of father's elder brother.
Characters
How it is used
- Wife of father's elder brother; polite address for a friend's/elder woman about your mother's age - 王伯母 (Wáng bómǔ) Auntie Wang.
- Pairs with 伯父/伯伯. Used respectfully for older married women.
- Contrast 婶婶 (shěnshen, wife of father's younger brother) and 阿姨 (āyí, general 'auntie'); 伯母 marks the senior side.