おばあちゃん

おばあちゃん
noun
grandmother; old woman
informalfamilyperson
See also: おばあさん (polite form), 祖母(そぼ) (formal/written)
1. grandmother, grandma
An informal, affectionate term for one's grandmother.
おばあちゃんの家(いえ)に行(い)く。
I'm going to grandma's house.
おばあちゃんがケーキを焼(や)いてくれた。
Grandma baked a cake for me.
夏休(なつやす)みに田舎(いなか)のおばあちゃんに会(あ)いに行(い)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.
駅(えき)でおばあちゃんの荷物(にもつ)を持(も)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(そぼ): 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 words

Related Words

Related: おじいちゃん (grandfather (informal))
Related: 祖父(そふ) (grandfather)
Related: おばちゃん (auntie)
general
Added 2026.2.12 8:06 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
10500/10968_obaachan