継母(ままはは)

ままはは
noun
stepmother
1. stepmother
A woman who is married to one's father but is not one's biological mother. The reading ままはは is the most common; the kanji 継 means 'to succeed' or 'to inherit.'
彼女(かのじょ)は五歳(ごさい)の時(とき)に継母(ままはは)に育(そだ)てられた。
She was raised by her stepmother from the age of five.
継母(ままはは)との関係(かんけい)は最初(さいしょ)は難(むずか)しかったが、少(すこ)しずつ打(う)ち解(と)けていった。
The relationship with my stepmother was difficult at first, but we gradually opened up to each other.
シンデレラの物語(ものがたり)には意地悪(いじわる)な継母(ままはは)が登場(とうじょう)する。
The story of Cinderella features a wicked stepmother.

USAGE:
The reading ままはは is the standard modern reading. The word まま in old Japanese meant 'not real' or 'step-.' In fairy tales and folk stories, the 継母(ままはは) often appears as a villainous figure, similar to Western 'wicked stepmother' tropes.

RELATED FAMILY TERMS:

  • 継父(ままちち): stepfather
  • 継子(ままこ): stepchild
  • 実母(じつぼ): biological mother

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 義母(ぎぼ): mother-in-law; stepmother — a formal term that can mean either; context determines meaning
general
Added 2026.3.20 21:21
18000/18220_mamahaha