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Kotomora

婆

old woman, grandma, wet nurse

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • バ

Kun'yomi

  • ばば
  • ばあ

Meaning

婆 centers on an older woman, especially in a familial or caregiving role: a grandmother, an old woman, or a wet nurse.

Most common words using 婆

20 of 43
  • 婆ちゃんばあちゃん

    granny; grandma; gran

  • 婆ばば

    old woman

  • 婆さんばあさん
    N1

    grandmother

  • 老婆ろうば

    old woman

  • 婆娑羅ばさら

    acting without restraint; self-indulgence; wild license; eccentricity

  • 娑婆しゃば

    this world; this life

  • 糞婆くそばばあ

    old hag; old woman; old bat

  • お転婆おてんば

    tomboy

  • 婆羅門ばらもん

    Brahmin (highest caste in Hinduism; traditional occupation of priesthood)

  • 阿婆擦れあばずれ

    bitch; shameless woman

  • 老婆心ろうばしん

    solicitude; consideration; concern; (excessive) kindness

  • 卒塔婆そとば

    stupa; dagoba

  • 産婆さんば

    midwife

  • 鬼婆おにばば

    hag; witch; bitch; penurious or spiteful old woman; termagant; virago

  • 塔婆とうば

    stupa; pagoda

  • お婆ちゃんおばあちゃん

    granny; grandma; gran

  • お婆んおばん

    old maid; frump; hag; old woman

  • 乾闥婆けんだつば

    gandharva (heavenly musicians and protectors of Buddhism)

  • 優婆塞うばそく

    upasaka (devout male lay follower of Buddhism)

  • 優婆夷うばい

    upasika (devout female lay follower of Buddhism)

Explore all words using 婆 →

Study

Etymology

婆 combines 波 (wave) and 女 (woman). The 波 component likely contributes the sound, while 女 gives the meaning of an older woman.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture an old woman (女) with wavy, flowing hair like waves (波). She is the grandma who tells stories by the sea.

Reading mnemonic

For バ, imagine the old woman humming a soft 'baa' sound like a gentle sheep: baa -> バ, and she rocks the baby like a wet nurse.