‘姨婆’ (yí pó) is a kinship term meaning ‘mother’s aunt’ — specifically, the sister of one’s maternal grandmother. The first character 姨 (yí) refers to a mother’s sister, while 婆 (pó) here denotes an elderly female relative, often implying seniority and respect. Together, they form a precise term for this specific familial relationship, commonly used in spoken and written Chinese when discussing extended family, genealogy, or during family gatherings.

This term reflects Chinese culture’s emphasis on distinguishing relatives by both lineage (maternal vs. paternal) and generation. Unlike English, which often uses generic terms like ‘great-aunt’, Chinese kinship terms are highly specific: ‘姨婆’ is strictly maternal, whereas ‘姑婆’ (gū pó) refers to father’s sister. It is typically used with honorifics or in descriptive contexts, and rarely as a direct form of address — people usually say ‘姨婆’ when referring to her, not when speaking to her directly.