Japanese Symbol for

haha

mother

Readings

  • ONbo
  • KUNははhaha
  • POLITEおかあさんokāsan

Meaning

Mother. 母 (haha) is the plain/formal form used when referring to one's own mother in humble speech. In everyday conversation Japanese speakers say お母さん (okāsan).

母国

bokoku

motherland, home country

母語

bogo

mother tongue, native language

母親

hahaoya

mother (formal)

祖母

sobo

grandmother

Japanese has an elaborate system of honorific and humble speech. When talking about your own mother to others, you use 母 (haha) — the humble form. When referring to someone else's mother, or calling your own mother directly, you use お母さん (okāsan) — the respectful form.

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