ママ
mum, mummy; the woman who runs a bar
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
ママ、お腹すいた。
ママ、おなかすいた。
Mum, I'm hungry.
子どもはママの手をしっかり握っていました。
こどもはママのてをしっかりにぎっていました。
The child was holding its mother's hand tightly.
あの店のママはとても親切です。
あのみせのママはとてもしんせつです。
The woman who runs that bar is very kind.
Common patterns
- ママとパパ
- mum and dad
- ママ友
- a friend made through one's children
- 店のママ
- the bar's mama-san
Memory tip
A small child's word, paired with パパ; adults refer to their own mother as 母 and to someone else's as お母さん. Quite separately, the ママ of a bar or snack is the woman who owns and runs it.
Quick check
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What does ママ mean?