What is a okaasan in japanese

© 2012-2022 RomajiDesu. Version 4.2 (2022 Jan.) by Haibuihoang
(0.01656s)

A major part of the database uses data from EDRD Group, Monash University.
Kanji Strokes orders diagrams are generated from KanjiVG data.
ResponsiveVoice-NonCommercial licensed under

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

The “general” Japanese word for mother is お母さん (okaasan). However, there are many different ways to say mother in Japanese, depending on who you are talking to. Knowing the right word to use can be complicated, but are ways to learn Japanese quickly and easily. Let’s take a look at the different ways to say mother in Japanese naturally. 

1. お母さん (Okaasan)

お母さん (Okaasan) means “mother” in Japanese. Its kanji, 母, represents a nursing mother. There are two general ways お母さん is used:  

1. When you’re referring/talking to your own mother. 
2. When you’re talking about someone else’s mother.

Some children will call their mother’s お母ちゃん (okaachan) instead of okaasan. There are some people who drop the お (o) from okaasan and call their mothers 母さん (kaasan). Adults sometimes use these words when they want to show endearment to their mothers. Regardless, okaasan is undoubtedly the most common and pliable way to say mother in Japanese.

Examples:

1. お母さん！俺の靴はどこにあるか知ってる？
(Okaasan! Ore no kutsu wa doko ni aru ka shitteru?)
Mom! Do you know where my shoes are?

2. あなたのお母さん、元気にしてる？
(Anata no okaasan, genki ni shiteru?)
How’s your mother doing?

2. 母 (Haha)

母 (haha) is the humble word for mother in Japanese. If you were to talk about your mother (to people outside of your family) in a formal situation, haha is the word you’d use. Because this is humble Japanese or 謙譲語(kenjougo), it’s rude to refer to other people’s mothers as haha. Only use this word when you talk about your mother.

Example:

1. 私の母は和食を作るのが好きです。
(Watashi no haha wa washoku o tsukuru no ga suki desu.)
My mother enjoys cooking Japanese food.

3. お袋 (Ofukuro)

The word お袋 (ofukuro) is a less formal way to refer to your mother when speaking to others. Some have posited that ofukuro is not culturally or grammatically “correct,” but the word has still become commonplace. You can use ofukuro either in formal settings or around your friends. It’s even possible to call your friends’ mother ofukuro, so long as you add -san. 

Example:

1. このおにぎり、お袋さん作ったの？めっちゃ美味しい！
(Kono onigiri, ofukuro-san tsukutta no? Meccha oishii!)
Did your mother make these rice balls?

4. 母親 (Haha Oya)

母親 (haha oya) is a broader term for mother in Japanese than the previous words. Haha oya refers to any female that has had children. 

This could technically mean a human mother or another type of animal. Haha oya shouldn’t be used to call your own mother, as it would feel cold and distant. It is possible to use it to refer to the mother of someone to whom you’re speaking, but if you want to play it safe, お母さん (okaasan) will work for most situations. Haha oya should be used for the third party only.

Examples:

1. あの赤い帽子を被っている子、母親に叱られたね。
(Ano akai boushi o kabutteiru ko, haha oya ni shikarareta ne.)
That boy in the red hat was just scolded by his moth

2. 小熊はかわいいけど、母親は危険だ。
(Koguma wa kawaii kedo, haha oya wa kiken da.)
Bear cubs are cute, but their mothers are dangerous.

5. ママ (Mama)

The word ママ (mama) is used by little children in Japan to refer to their mother. It has the same nuance as the word “mommy.” 

Like okaachan, the word mama may be used by adults as a term of endearment. However, the nuance of mama is more childish. You definitely wouldn’t want to refer to your mother as mama in adult company.

Example:

1. ママ、アイス食べたい！
(Mama, aisu tabetai!)
Mommy, I want ice cream!

6. おかん (Okan)

おかん（okan） originates from the nationally beloved Osakan dialect. However, the term spread and is now common in all prefectures of Japan. Okan is a pet name for mother in Japanese. 

Think of it as the English equivalent to mom, mama, or mommy. The nuance to okan is a bit less childish than that of mama; however, it’s still most common among middle and high school students. Adults wouldn’t use the word okan in public or formal settings.

Example:

1. 俺のおかんが昨日、ビーフシチューを作ってくれた。最高だった！
(Ore no okan ga kinou, biifu shichuu o tsukutte kureta. Saikou datta!)
My mama made beef stew last night; it was awesome!

7. 御母堂様 (Gobodou-Sama)

御母堂 (gobodou) is an extremely formal way of referring to someone else’s mother. Gobodou is 尊敬語 (sonkeigo)or respectful Japanese. More often than not, the suffix 様 (-sama) will be affixed at the end.

Gobodou is an uncommon word. It’s mostly used in formal writing, such as in a letter or an invitation. You’re most likely to find gobodou in situations like a letter announcing the death of someone’s mother or in a letter of condolence given at the funeral.

Example:

1. 御母堂様の御逝去に対し、心よりお悔やみ申し上げます。
(Gobodou-sama no goseikyo ni taishi, kokoro yori okuyami moushi agemasu.)
I offer my heartfelt condolences for your mother’s death.

8. 母上（Haha Ue）

Technically, 母上 (haha ue) is getting to be an obsolete term. It’s origins are unclear, but it appeared in a book of poems in the Heian Period (794-1185). Haha ue was often used by samurai families. It means mother in archaic Japanese. 

While you wouldn’t call your own mother haha ue, you will definitely hear the word if you ever watch a samurai film in Japanese.

Some Japanese people call their mothers haha ue as a joke, but there are some people who use it normally to refer to their mother. Whether you like period films or just want to make your host mother smile, haha ue still has its uses.

Example:

1. 母上！申し訳ございません！
(Haha ue! Moushi wake gozaimasen!)
Forgive me, O my mother!

Conclusion

There is a multitude of ways to say mother in Japanese. However, you can’t go wrong with the standard, “お母さん (okaasan)” for most situations. 

How do you say mother in your language? Let us know in the comments! Thank you for reading!

What do Japanese people call their parents?

How do we call mom in Japanese?

Do they say mom or Mum in Japan?