おばあちゃん
おばあちゃん
noun
grandmother; old woman
1.
grandmother, grandma
An informal, affectionate term for one's grandmother.
おばあちゃんの家に行く。
I'm going to grandma's house.
おばあちゃんがケーキを焼いてくれた。
Grandma baked a cake for me.
夏休みに田舎のおばあちゃんに会いに行きました。
During summer vacation, I went to visit my grandmother in the countryside.
2.
old woman, elderly lady
An informal way to refer to an elderly woman in general.
近所のおばあちゃんはいつも元気だ。
The old lady in the neighborhood is always energetic.
駅でおばあちゃんの荷物を持ってあげた。
I helped carry an elderly woman's bags at the station.
おばあちゃん is the informal, affectionate term for "grandmother" or "old lady." It's the ちゃん form of おばあさん.
FORMALITY LEVELS:
- おばあちゃん: informal, affectionate (used by/with family)
- おばあさん: polite (used for others' grandmothers or elderly women)
- 祖母: formal/written (used when referring to one's own grandmother to outsiders)
- おばあさま: very polite/respectful
USAGE:
Sense 1 (grandmother): Used as a term of address or reference within the family. Children typically call their grandmother おばあちゃん.
Sense 2 (elderly woman): Can be used affectionately for any elderly woman, but some women may find it unwelcome if they don't consider themselves old.
RELATED:
- おじいちゃん: grandfather (informal)
- 祖父: grandfather (formal)