婆ばば

ば

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Informal or slightly derogatory term for an elderly woman; can be used affectionately or pejoratively depending on context. Usually written in kana.

usually written using kana alonecard games

In the card game 'old maid' (ババ抜き), the joker card that players try to avoid. Often written in katakana.

〈人ひと〉がばばを引ひくto draw the joker/old maid card (also fig. to end up stuck with something bad)
ババ抜ぬきで最さい後ごに彼かれがばばを引ひいてしまった。
In the end, he was the one who drew the old maid card.

老ろう婆ば sense 1
老婆 is a formal, neutral literary term for an old woman, while 婆 is casual and can sound derogatory or overly familiar.
ジョーカー sense 2
ジョーカー is the general word for the joker card in any card game, while 婆 specifically refers to that card in the context of ババ抜き (old maid).
ばあちゃん sense 1
婆ちゃん is a warm, affectionate way to refer to an old woman or grandmother, whereas 婆 alone often carries a blunt or slightly rude tone.

爺じじ
婆 is the female counterpart meaning 'old woman', paired with 爺 which means 'old man'.

おばあさんpolite 丁寧語N5sense 1
お婆さん is the polite, respectful way to refer to an elderly woman, while 婆 is the blunt, casual (often derogatory) term for the same person.

姥うば sense 1
姥 is a more literary, older-fashioned kanji for 'old woman' used in classical or folkloric contexts, unlike the everyday, informal 婆.

婆ばばUsage75%
Kanji form; commonly used in compounds and written contexts.
ばばUsage14%
Kana form is usual for the 'old woman' sense.
ババUsage11%
kana-only spelling
Katakana form is common in card game contexts, especially for 'old maid'.

Derived from a reduplication of 婆 (ば), an old woman. The card game sense comes from the game 'old maid' where the losing card is called ババ.

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Informal or slightly derogatory term for an elderly woman; can be used affectionately or pejoratively depending on context. Usually written in kana.

usually written using kana alonecard games

In the card game 'old maid' (ババ抜き), the joker card that players try to avoid. Often written in katakana.