Japanese dictionary
How to say "grandmother" in Japanese
祖母そぼ · sobo
"Grandmother" in Japanese is 祖母 (sobo) for your own, おばあさん (obāsan) for someone else's, and おばあちゃん (obāchan) within the family.
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Ways to say "grandmother" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 祖母そぼ · sobo | Grandmother (your own, when talking to others). |
| おばあさんおばあさん · obāsan | Grandmother (someone else's); elderly woman. |
| おばあちゃんおばあちゃん · obāchan | Grandma (affectionate). |
How to use it
おばあさん also means an elderly woman in general.
Careful: おばあさん (long ā) is grandmother, and おばさん (short a) is aunt.
Example sentences
- 祖母は京都に住んでいます。Sobo wa Kyōto ni sunde imasu.My grandmother lives in Kyoto.
- おばあちゃんの料理が大好きです。Obāchan no ryōri ga daisuki desu.I love Grandma's cooking.
- お正月に祖母に会いに行きます。O-shōgatsu ni sobo ni ai ni ikimasu.I'm going to see my grandmother at New Year's.
- 佐藤さんのおばあさんはお元気ですか。Satō-san no obāsan wa o-genki desu ka.How is your grandmother, Ms. Sato?
- 祖母に手紙を書きました。Sobo ni tegami o kakimashita.I wrote a letter to my grandmother.
- おばあさんが道を聞いてきました。Obāsan ga michi o kiite kimashita.An elderly woman asked me for directions.
Kanji in this word
Questions
What is the difference between おばあさん and おばさん?
おばあさん (obāsan, long ā) means grandmother or an elderly woman. おばさん (obasan, short a) means aunt or a middle-aged woman.
When do you use 祖母?
Use 祖母 (sobo) when talking about your own grandmother to others, especially in polite conversation.
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