わたしのおば
watashi no obaspeaking about her
My aunt in hiragana is わたしのおば (watashi no oba) when you talk about your own aunt to others. When you talk to her or about someone else's aunt, use おばさん (obasan).
Meaning: aunt (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| わたしのおば | watashi no oba | speaking about her |
| おばさん | obasan | speaking to her |
Which one should you use?
Japanese has separate words for your own family and for other people's family. おば is for your own aunt, and おばさん is the respectful or friendly form.
How does it change in a sentence?
Add の after わたし to show ownership: わたしのおば.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse おばさん (obasan), aunt, with おばあさん (obāsan), grandmother. The long ā changes the meaning.
Did you know?
- The word おじ (oji) is the matching word for uncle, with おじさん (ojisan) as the form used to address him.
Examples in context
- わたしのおばはきょうとにすんでいます。Watashi no oba wa Kyōto ni sunde imasu.My aunt lives in Kyoto.
Example conversation
Kota visits his Aunt and speaks to her.
- Kotaおばさん、こんにちは。Obasan, konnichiwa.Hello, Auntie.
- Auntいらっしゃい、こうた。Irasshai, Kōta.Welcome, Kota.
- Kotaおばさんのりょうりがたのしみです。Obasan no ryōri ga tanoshimi desu.I am looking forward to your cooking.
