Neutral term for an elderly woman. Can be used in both descriptive and narrative contexts.
道で老婆が重そうな荷物を持っていた。
An old woman was carrying a heavy-looking load on the street.
I met an old woman alone on the mountain path.
その老婆は毎朝公園を散歩している。
That old woman takes a walk in the park every morning.
The traveler asked the old woman for directions.
お婆さん is a warm, affectionate term often used for one's own grandmother or a familiar elderly woman, while 老婆 is a neutral, more distant descriptive term.
老婆 is a formal, neutral literary term for an old woman, while 婆 is casual and can sound derogatory or overly familiar.
老婆 also means 'old woman' but can sound blunt or even slightly derogatory, whereas 老婦 is softer and more respectful.
老婆 is a literary, somewhat formal word for an old woman, while 婆さん is the everyday, familiar term.
老婆 refers to an old woman, while 老爺 refers to an old man, making them a gender-based pair.
counter for people
excessive kindness; solicitude; meddlesome concern
Composed of 老 (old) and 婆 (old woman). The reading ろうば is the on'yomi of both characters.