婆
婆·old woman
- On-yomi
- バ
- Kun-yomi
- none
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 老婆 | ろうば | old woman |
| お婆さん | おばあさん | grandmother, old lady |
| 産婆 | さんば | midwife (older term) |
| 老婆心 | ろうばしん | excessive (motherly) concern |
Example sentences
道で老婆に道を尋ねられた。
みちでろうばにみちをたずねられた。
An old woman asked me for directions in the street.
お婆さんが庭で花に水をやっている。
おばあさんがにわではなにみずをやっている。
The old lady is watering the flowers in the garden.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Using 老婆 to someone's face — it is a descriptive, rather blunt word; おばあさん is the polite choice
- Reading お婆さん as おばさん — おばさん (aunt/middle-aged lady) is 伯母/叔母, with a short vowel
Memory aid
Picture it
波 (waves) sitting on top of 女 — a woman whose face has been lined into waves by the years.
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 婆 mean?