祖父 · Grandfather
Grandfather in Chinese: 爷爷 vs 外公
Like grandmother, grandfather splits in two: 爷爷 (yé ye) is your father's father; 外公 (wài gōng) is your mother's father. The distinction is the same one that runs through the entire Chinese kinship system.
The short answer
yé ye
paternal grandfather
Use for your father's father.
wài gōng
maternal grandfather
Use for your mother's father.
Which one should you use?
The everyday word in standard Mandarin. Formal writing uses 祖父 zǔfù.
Standard across most of China. Northern speech uses 姥爷 lǎoye; formal writing: 外祖父 wàizǔfù.
The grandfather words, side by side
Same pattern as grandmother: one word for the father's side, one for the mother's side.
| Term | Pinyin | English | Who exactly | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yé ye | paternal grandfather | your father's father | Also 祖父 zǔfù in formal writing. If your father has brothers, they are ranked separately — 爷爷 is the grandfather, not an uncle. | |
| wài gōng | maternal grandfather | your mother's father | In northern China the everyday word is 姥爷 lǎoye. Formal: 外祖父 wàizǔfù. 外 marks the mother's side. | |
| zēng zǔ fù | great-grandfather | your grandfather's father | For the mother's side, add 外: 外曾祖父. Most families simply say 太爷爷 in speech. |
姥爷 (lǎoye) is the northern everyday word for 外公, and 太爷爷 is common for a great-grandfather in speech.
In a sentence
我爷爷今年八十岁。Wǒ yéye jīnnián bāshí suì.
My paternal grandfather is eighty this year.
外公喜欢下棋，每天下午都去公园。Wàigōng xǐhuan xiàqí, měitiān xiàwǔ dōu qù gōngyuán.
My maternal grandfather likes chess and goes to the park every afternoon.
Common mistakes
- Using 爷爷 for your mother's father. He is 外公 (or 姥爷 in the north).
- Mixing up 外公 and 姥爷 in the same family. Pick the word the family uses and stay with it.
- Forgetting that 爷爷 and 奶奶 are also polite address for elderly strangers — the kinship word doubles as etiquette.
The cultural bit
What the word carries
The 外 in 外公 is the same “outer” marker you see in 外婆 and 外孙. It records the mother's line, not distance. In northern China you will hear 姥爷 far more often than 外公; in the south, 外公 is normal. Both are correct Mandarin.
Questions
Is 姥爷 the same as 外公?
Yes — 姥爷 is the northern everyday word, 外公 is standard elsewhere and in writing. Use whichever the family uses.
Why does 外公 have 外 in it?
It marks the mother's side in the traditional patrilineal system. The same prefix appears in 外婆, 外孙 and 外甥.
Is 爷爷 used for strangers?
Yes, politely. 爷爷 and 奶奶 are normal ways to address an elderly man or woman you do not know, especially in friendly or service settings.
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