母(はは)

はは
noun
mother (usually one's own)
humblefamily
1. mother (my mother)
Humble term used when referring to one's own mother when speaking to others outside the family.
My mother is good at cooking.
My mother teaches English at a high school.
I gave a present on Mother's Day.
母(はは)の日(ひ) = Mother's Day
My mother gets up early every morning and makes breakfast for me.
When I heard my mother was sick, I was so worried that I couldn't concentrate on work, so I hurried onto a train and went back to my parents' house.

母(はは) is the humble term for "mother," used when referring to one's own mother when speaking to people outside the family.

Register

  • 母(はは): my mother (humble, to outsiders)
  • お母(かあ)さん: mother (neutral, direct address or others' mothers)
  • お母(かあ)さま: mother (very polite/formal)
  • ママ: mom (casual, childish)

Common expressions

Usage note: In casual family settings, children may call their mother お母(かあ)さん or ママ. 母(はは) is specifically for humble reference when talking to outsiders.

Related: 父(ちち) (father - humble)

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Referring to People: Pronouns, Names, Titles, and Family Terms