ひいおばあさん
hiiobaasan
The English phrase "great grandmother" is translated into Japanese as ひいおばあさん (hiiobaasan).
The term is used to refer to the mother of one's grandmother or grandfather.
What does it mean word for word?
The prefix ひい (hii) is used to indicate the generation above one's grandparents, functioning similarly to the English prefix "great-" in "great-grandmother".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form ひいおばあさん is a polite way to refer to a great-grandmother and is suitable for general conversation. A more formal version is ひいおばあさま, which uses the suffix さま to make the term extremely respectful. This is often used when speaking about someone else's great-grandmother in a highly respectful context.
How do you pronounce it?
hiiobaasan
Did you know?
- The prefix ひい can be stacked to describe even older ancestors. A great-great-grandmother is called ひいひいおばあさん, and the pattern continues for every generation further back.
- The honorific さま used in ひいおばあさま is the same suffix used for deities and royalty in Japanese culture.
- While おばあさん refers to a grandmother, the word ばあさん without the お prefix can be perceived as blunt or rude when used toward a family member.
Examples in context
- メアリーがうっかり落として割ってしまった花瓶は、トムのひいおばあさんのものでした。それは家宝でした。The vase which Mary accidentally dropped and smashed had belonged to Tom's great-grandmother. It had been a family heirloom.This sentence shows how to refer to a great-grandmother using ひいおばあさん when discussing a family heirloom.Tatoeba #11457338 by small_snow, translation #10987804 by sundown
- ひいおばあさんは、とても元気でした。hii obaasann wa, totemo genki deshita.My great grandmother was very energetic.
- 私のひいおばあさんの写真は、古いものです。watashi no hii obaasann no shashin wa, furui mono desu.The photo of my great grandmother is an old one.
Example conversation
Misaki and Daigaki are looking at old family photos.
- 美咲 Misakiこの人は誰ですか？Kono hito wa dare desu ka?Who is this person?
- 大翔 Hiroto私のひいおばあさんだよ。Watashi no hii-obāsan dayo.This is my great grandmother.
- 美咲 Misakiとても若く見えますね。Totemo wakaku miemasu ne.She looks very young.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだね、昔の写真だからね。Sō dane, mukashi no shashin dakara ne.True, it is an old photo.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
