おばあさん
obāsanpolite, everyday
In hiragana, "grandmother" is おばあさん (obāsan). In the family people say おばあちゃん (obāchan), and そぼ (sobo) is the formal word for your own grandmother.
Meaning: grandmother (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| おばあさん | obāsan | polite, everyday |
| おばあちゃん | obāchan | affectionate |
| そぼ | sobo | formal, own grandmother |
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
おばあちゃん (obāchan) is warm and used to her face. おばあさん (obāsan) is polite and also means an elderly woman in general. そぼ (sobo) is for talking about your own grandmother to others.
How do you pronounce it?
Say the ばあ (bā) for two beats. With a short vowel, おばさん (obasan) means "aunt".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not call an older woman おばあさん (obāsan) if she might not like it. おばさん and おばあさん can both sound rude when used about a stranger.
Did you know?
- On a visit to a grandparent's house, Japanese children often greet with ただいま (tadaima), even though it is not their own home.
Examples in context
- おばあちゃんの いえに いきます。Obāchan no ie ni ikimasu.I am going to Grandma's house.
- おばあさんは やさしい。Obāsan wa yasashii.The grandmother is kind.
- そぼは ながの に すんでいます。Sobo wa Nagano ni sunde imasu.My grandmother lives in Nagano.
Example conversation
Kenta visits his grandmother Mrs. Hara during summer vacation.
- Kentaおばあちゃん、ただいま。Obāchan, tadaima.Grandma, I am here.
- Mrs. Haraおかえり。おなか すいた？Okaeri. Onaka suita?Welcome. Are you hungry?
- Kentaうん、すいた。Un, suita.Yes, I am.
