Japanese Conversation · Level 15
90 words
Japanese word
おばさん
Pronunciation
Romajiobasan
Meaning
- nounaunt
Example
私のおばさんは大阪に住んでいます。watashi no o ba sa n wa ō saka ni su n de i ma su
My aunt lives in Osaka.
More examples
おばさんが料理を教えてくれました。o ba sa n ga ryō ri o oshi e te ku re ma shi ta
My aunt taught me how to cook.
Core concept
Connects a parent's sister with a familiar way to refer to an adult woman, depending on context.
Common phrases
おばさんに会うo ba sa n ni a u
meet one's aunt
おばさんと話すo ba sa n to hana su
talk with one's aunt
Similar words
おばちゃんobachan: A casual term for an aunt or an adult woman addressed in a familiar way.
Definition in Japanese
親の姉妹、または中年の女性を指す語。oya no shi mai ma ta wa chū nen no jo sei o sa su go
Word origin
Combines おば (oba, "aunt") with さん (san, "polite title"), forming a familiar term for an aunt or an adult woman.
Usage tips
- In conversation, おばさん (obasan) can refer to an aunt or to an adult woman who is not a relative, so context determines whether aunt is the right English translation.
Other meanings
- middle-aged womannoun