‘舅妈’ (jiù mā) is a kinship term referring specifically to the wife of one’s maternal uncle — that is, the husband’s sister’s husband’s wife. The first character 舅 (jiù) means ‘maternal uncle’, and the second character 妈 (mā) means ‘mother’ or ‘aunt-like female elder’; together, they form a respectful, familial title indicating both relationship and generational closeness. Unlike English, which lacks a single word for this role, Chinese uses precise compound terms to distinguish relatives by lineage (maternal vs. paternal) and marital status.

This term is commonly used in family gatherings, introductions, letters, or when speaking respectfully about elders. It carries warmth and formality, and children often address their maternal uncle’s wife directly as 舅妈 — similar to how ‘Auntie’ is used in English, but far more specific. It is not used for paternal uncles’ wives (who are called 婶婶 shěn shen), nor for maternal aunts’ husbands (who are 舅父 jiù fù).