In Yunnan dialect, the empress is called niāngniāng in Mandarin.

In Kunming dialect, "Empress" means sister-in-law.

Pronounced niāngniāng, it means aunt in many southern dialects.

In the dialects of the southwest, eastern northwest and parts of the Yangtze River Delta, it means aunt, father's sister.

Sometimes it also refers to female elders such as aunts and aunties next door.