祖母
sobo[so̞bo̞]
In Japanese, the phrase "my grandma" is translated as 祖母 (sobo).
祖母 is used to refer to the mother of one's father or mother when speaking about her to others.
Which one should you use?
祖母 (sobo) is used when speaking about your own grandmother to other people, whereas おばあさん (obāsan) is used when addressing her directly or talking about someone else's grandmother. Additionally, おばあちゃん (obāchan) serves as an affectionate and informal way to call her.
How do you pronounce it?
sobo
Did you know?
- While 祖母 is the formal term for one's own grandmother, the term おばあさん can be used as a generic word for any elderly woman, even a complete stranger.
- The character 祖 in 祖母 can also mean 'ancestor' or 'founder'. This reflects a cultural view of the grandmother as the root or origin of the family lineage.
- In many Japanese families, you might never hear a person use the word 祖母 in casual conversation, even when talking about their own grandmother to a friend.
Examples in context
- 祖母もすっかり歳をとった。My grandma has gotten very old.This sentence is useful for expressing that 祖母 has aged significantly.Tatoeba #140649 by bunbuku, translation #533205 by darinmex
- 父の母は、私の祖母にあたります。My father's mother is my grandma.This sentence is useful for explaining the relationship of being a grandmother.Tatoeba #10187691 by small_snow, translation #4612600 by davidvdb
- 私のお祖母さん（おばあさん）はとても料理上手です。My grandma is very skilled at cooking.
- 昨日、ばあちゃんの家で美味しいケーキを作りました。Yesterday, I made a delicious cake at my grandma's house.
- 祖母は今、元気にしています。Sobo wa ima, genki ni shite imasu.My grandma is doing well now.
Example conversation
Youta and Himari are talking about their families.
- 陽太 Yota今度、祖母と一緒に京都へ行きます。Kondo, sobo to issho ni Kyōto e ikimasu.I am going to Kyoto with my grandma soon.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。楽しみですね。Ii desu ne. Tanoshimi desu ne.That's nice. I'm sure it will be fun.
- 陽太 Yotaはい。祖母が案内してくれるそうです。Hai. Sobo ga annai shite kureru sō desu.Yes. I heard my grandma will show me around.
- 陽葵 Himariそれは素敵ですね。Sore wa suteki desu ne.That is wonderful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 祖母, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
