Say "Mother" in Japanese
Similar to English, there are several ways to say and write the word 'mother' in Japanese. In this article, I will list common variations and explain when it is appropriate to use each word respectively.
Steps
- Someone else's mother. If you are referring to another person's mother, you would traditionally use the word, 'okaasan' (o-ka-saan) or 'お母さん'. It is an equivalent to the formal English word, 'mother'. Here is an example sentence you can try: "Kimi no okaasan wa kibishii desu ka?" "Is your mother strict?"
- Your mother. If you are referring to your own mother, you would traditionally use the word, 'haha' or '母'. It is a short, 'bouncy' word. Unless you find something humorous, it should not sound like you're actually laughing. It is the equivalent to the American-English word, 'mom'. Here is another example sentence you can try: "Haha, genki desu ka?" "Feeling good, mom?"
Tips
- If you are preparing to live with a Japanese home-stay family, do not use the word, 'okaasan', unless you have been instructed to do so. In most cases, it sounds very 'harsh' and distant. It is polite to ask your host-family what they would like to be called after settling into your living environment.
- Counter to tradition, the word 'mama' has gained popularity in Japan - particularly among impressionable children. You may hear this phrase used by youngsters and television personalities, but I wouldn't suggest using it yourself. Regardless, if you have a Japanese host family, ask them beforehand what they would prefer to be called to avoid embarrassment.
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