Mom in Chinese
The Chinese word for mom is 妈妈 (mā ma). The warm everyday word children use for their mother. In traditional characters it is written 媽媽.
mā ma
Mom
What 妈妈 means.
妈妈 is what Chinese children call their mother, just like “Mom”. 母亲 is the formal, written word, so 妈妈 feels warmer and more personal.
- 妈
- mom
- 妈
- mom
Simplified and traditional
妈妈
媽媽
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 媽媽 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 妈妈 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
About mom in Chinese
How do you write mom in Chinese?
Mom is 妈妈 in Chinese, pronounced mā ma. Mom 妈 means “mom”, 妈 means “mom”.
How do you pronounce 妈妈?
Say mā (first tone, high and level), ma (neutral tone, light and short). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 妈妈 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 媽媽, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 妈妈 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
Is 妈妈 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.