阿姨 āyí auntie
auntie; step-mother; mother's younger sister
How to remember 阿姨: 阿 ah + 姨 aunt = auntie.
Characters
How it is used
- Auntie - literally mother's sister, but broadly a polite address for any middle-aged woman: 快递阿姨, 保洁阿姨.
- Also the common term for a domestic helper/nanny/cleaner: 请个阿姨 (qǐng ge āyí) hire a housekeeper.
- Kids use it for any friendly adult woman, similar to calling someone 'auntie' in English but far more routine.
- Contrast 姨 (mother's side) with 姑姑 (father's sister); as a term of address 阿姨 is generic.
Example sentences
- 我是她的阿姨。 Wǒ shì tā de āyí.I am her aunt.
- 他呆在他阿姨家。 Tā dāi zài tā āyí jiā.He's staying at his aunt's.