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(いえ)()く。
I'm going to grandma's house.
おばあちゃんがケーキを()いてくれた。
Grandma baked a cake for me.
夏休(なつやす)みに田舎(いなか)のおばあちゃんに()いに()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(きんじょ)のおばあちゃんはいつも元気(げんき)だ。
The old lady in the neighborhood is always energetic.
(えき)でおばあちゃんの荷物(にもつ)()ってあげた。
I helped carry an elderly woman's bags at the station.

FORMALITY:

おばあちゃん is informal and affectionate. More formal equivalents:

  • おばあさん (polite)
  • 祖母(そぼ) (formal/written, used when referring to one's own grandmother to others)
  • お祖母(おばあ)さま (very polite/respectful)

RELATED FAMILY TERMS:

  • おじいちゃん (grandfather, informal)
  • おばあさん (grandmother, polite)
  • 祖母(そぼ) (grandmother, formal)
  • 祖父(そふ) (grandfather, formal)