How to say "aunt" in Japanese
"Aunt" in Japanese is おば (oba) for your own aunt and おばさん (obasan) when speaking politely.
▶ plays native audio. Audio on this site plays when you are logged in to your free japanese.ccn.jp account (the same account as Japanese Talk by CCN).
Ways to say "aunt" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| おばさんおばさん · obasan | Aunt (polite; for someone else's aunt or when calling your aunt). |
| おばおば · oba | Aunt (your own, when talking to others). |
| 伯母・叔母おば · oba | Aunt in writing: 伯母 is older than your parent, 叔母 is younger. |
How to use it
In writing, Japanese uses different kanji depending on age: 伯母 for an aunt older than your parent and 叔母 for a younger one. Both are read おば.
Careful: おばさん can also mean a middle-aged woman in general, and some women don't like being called that.
Example sentences
- おばはカナダに住んでいます。Oba wa Kanada ni sunde imasu.My aunt lives in Canada.
- 週末におばの家に行きました。Shūmatsu ni oba no ie ni ikimashita.I went to my aunt's house on the weekend.
- 田中さんのおばさんは先生ですか。Tanaka-san no obasan wa sensei desu ka.Is Mr. Tanaka's aunt a teacher?
- おばからプレゼントが届きました。Oba kara purezento ga todokimashita.A present arrived from my aunt.
- 母の妹は私のおばです。Haha no imōto wa watashi no oba desu.My mother's younger sister is my aunt.
- おばさん、お元気ですか。Obasan, o-genki desu ka.How are you, Auntie?
Questions
What is the difference between おばさん and おばあさん?
おばさん (obasan, short ba) means aunt or a middle-aged woman. おばあさん (obāsan, long bā) means grandmother or an elderly woman.
How do you say "uncle" in Japanese?
Uncle is おじ (oji), or おじさん (ojisan) when speaking politely.
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.