‘姨妈’ (yí mā) is a kinship term meaning ‘maternal aunt’—specifically, the sister of one’s mother. The character 姨 (yí) by itself means ‘aunt on mother’s side’, while 妈 (mā) means ‘mother’; together, they form a warm, familiar compound that emphasizes familial closeness and respect. Unlike formal terms like ‘母系姨母’, ‘姨妈’ is commonly used in everyday speech, especially by children and younger family members.

This word reflects Chinese kinship naming conventions, where relationships are precisely distinguished by lineage (maternal vs. paternal) and generation. It is not used for paternal aunts—that role is filled by ‘姑妈’ (gū mā). ‘姨妈’ often carries connotations of affection and approachability, and may appear in contexts like family gatherings, holiday visits, or childhood memories. It can also be used metaphorically in informal speech to refer to any older woman who plays a nurturing, aunt-like role.