おばあちゃん

Meanings

familiar languageusually written using kana alone

Affectionate, familiar term for one's own grandmother or an elderly woman addressed as a grandmother figure. Used within the family or with close acquaintances.

おばあちゃんが作つくってくれたおにぎりが大だい好すきです。
I love the rice balls my grandma makes for me.
週しゅう末まつはいつもおばあちゃんの家いえに遊あそびに行いく。
I always go to my grandma's house to visit on weekends.

noun

old lady; old woman

familiar languageusually written using kana alone

Can refer to any elderly woman in a familiar, sometimes slightly informal way. Not necessarily a relative; often used by children or in casual speech.

近きん所じょのおばあちゃんがいつも道みちで挨あい拶さつしてくれる。
The old lady in my neighborhood always greets me on the street.

See all 77 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉のおばあちゃんの家いえに行いくto go to grandma's house (in a place)
夏なつ休やすみに田舎いなかのおばあちゃんの家いえに行いった。
During summer vacation I went to my grandma's house in the countryside.
おばあちゃんに甘あまえるto be babied/spoiled by grandma
小ちいさい頃ころはいつもおばあちゃんに甘あまえていた。
When I was little, I was always spoiled by my grandma.

Kanji

婆old woman, grandma, wet nurse
祖ancestor, pioneer, founder
母mother

Related words

おばあさんN5
おばあちゃん is a more childlike, intimate term for one's grandmother, while おばあさん is slightly more polite and can also address any elderly woman.

Opposites

おじいちゃん
おばあちゃん means grandma/an old woman, while おじいちゃん is the matching term for grandpa/an old man.

Politeness

おばあさんpolite 丁寧語N5
おばあちゃん is the intimate, childish term used within the family, while おばあさん is the more polite, standard word used to address or refer to elderly women respectfully.
祖そ母ぼpolite 丁寧語N4sense 1
おばあちゃん is a warm, familiar family term, whereas 祖母 is the neutral, formal word used when referring to one's own grandmother in writing or polite conversation with outsiders.

Don't confuse with

おばさんN5
おばあちゃん (with a long ā sound) means grandma or an elderly woman, while おばさん (short a) means aunt or a middle-aged woman, so the vowel length changes the meaning entirely.

Counted with

人にん
counter for people

Written forms

お婆ばあちゃん
Common kanji spelling using 婆; widely seen in manga and casual writing.
お祖母ばあちゃん
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji spelling using 祖母; it is rarely used.

Etymology

Derived from お祖母さん (obāsan) with the affectionate diminutive suffix ちゃん (chan), creating a more intimate and casual form.