おばさん

おばさん
noun
aunt; middle-aged woman
politefamilyperson
See also: おじさん (uncle / middle-aged man), おばあさん (grandmother (sound-alike)), おばちゃん (auntie (informal/affectionate))
1. aunt
One's parent's sister. Can also refer to the wife of one's parent's brother (aunt by marriage).
おばさんは料理(りょうり)が上手(じょうず)です。
My aunt is good at cooking.
おばさんの家(いえ)に泊(と)まりました。
I stayed at my aunt's house.
おばさんに会(あ)いに行(い)きます。
I'm going to visit my aunt.
おばさんは母(はは)の姉(あね)です。
My aunt is my mother's older sister.
おばさんにお土産(みやげ)を買(か)った。
I bought a souvenir for my aunt.
2. middle-aged woman, ma'am
Used to address or refer to a middle-aged woman who is not related to you. Similar to 'ma'am' in English, though can sound less formal.
八百屋(やおや)のおばさんは親切(しんせつ)です。
The lady at the vegetable shop is kind.
近所(きんじょ)のおばさんが毎日(まいにち)挨拶(あいさつ)してくれる。
The lady in the neighborhood greets me every day.
おばさん、これはいくらですか。
Ma'am, how much is this?
店(みせ)のおばさんがおまけをくれた。
The lady at the shop gave me a freebie.
おばさんになったら何(なに)がしたい？
What do you want to do when you become middle-aged?

おばさん has two main uses: addressing a family aunt, and addressing or referring to a middle-aged woman.

Writing

For a family aunt:

  • 叔母(おば)さん: aunt younger than your parent
  • 伯母(おば)さん: aunt older than your parent

In practice, most people write おばさん in hiragana regardless.

Watch out

おばさん (aunt / middle-aged woman) and おばあさん (grandmother / elderly woman) sound very similar. Pronouncing the wrong one can cause offense — be careful with vowel length. Calling a stranger おばさん tells her you see her as middle-aged; many women, especially younger ones, find it unwelcome. In a shop, すみません is the safe way to get attention.

Register

When speaking about your own aunt to others, use 叔母(おば)/伯母(おば) (without さん). When referring to someone else's aunt politely, おばさま is more formal.

Related words

Related Words

Compare: おじいさん (grandfather, elderly man)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:37 · Revised 2026.9.29 22:41
00500/00801_obasan