Mother meanings in Japanese

母 (はは, haha)

Example:

My mother is a doctor.

私の母は医者です。

I love my mother very much.

私は母をとても愛しています。

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used to refer to one's own mother in both casual and formal situations.

Note: The term '母' is used when talking about one's own mother in a respectful manner. In casual conversation, children may use 'お母さん (okaasan)' instead.

お母さん (おかあさん, okaasan)

Example:

Okaasan, can you help me?

お母さん、手伝ってくれますか？

I will call my okaasan.

お母さんに電話します。

Usage: informalContext: Commonly used by children or in informal settings to refer to one's mother.

Note: 'お母さん' is a more affectionate and casual way to address one's mother, often used by children or younger people.

母親 (ははおや, hahaoya)

Example:

My mother is very supportive.

母親はとても支えてくれます。

She is a great mother.

彼女は素晴らしい母親です。

Usage: formalContext: Used in formal writing or discussions, often to refer to mothers in general.

Note: '母親' is a more formal term used in literature, academics, or professional contexts when discussing motherhood.

マザー (まざー, mazaa)

Example:

She is the mother of three children.

彼女は三人の子供のマザーです。

The organization is a mother of many charities.

その団体は多くの慈善活動のマザーです。

Usage: informalContext: Used in a more global or trendy context, sometimes in pop culture or business.

Note: 'マザー' is a loanword from English, used in informal contexts and not typically used to refer to one's own mother.

mom

Mom is an informal term for mother, commonly used in American English.

Example: My mom cooks delicious meals for us every day.

Note: Mom is more casual and intimate compared to mother.

mum

Mum is a British English term for mother, similar to 'mom' in American English.

Example: I called my mum to wish her a happy birthday.

Note: Mum is the British variant of 'mom' and is commonly used in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.

mama

Mama is an affectionate and informal term for mother, often used by young children.

Example: The baby reached out to its mama for comfort.

Note: Mama is a more endearing term for mother, often associated with childhood or closeness.

ma

Ma is a shortened and informal version of 'mama' or 'mum', used in various English-speaking regions.

Example: Ma always knows how to make everything better.

Note: Ma is a more colloquial and shortened form of mother, commonly used in informal settings.

like mother, like daughter

This phrase means that a daughter tends to have similar qualities or characteristics as her mother.

Example: She's always helping others, just like her mother. Like mother, like daughter.

Note: The phrase focuses on similarities in behavior or traits between a mother and daughter, rather than just the relationship itself.

a mother's love knows no bounds

This phrase emphasizes the limitless and unconditional love that a mother has for her children.

Example: Even in difficult times, her mother's love for her children knows no bounds.

Note: It highlights the depth and strength of a mother's love beyond what is typically expected.

mother hen

A 'mother hen' is someone, usually a woman, who is overly protective and caring towards others.

Example: She's always fussing over us, acting like a mother hen.

Note: It refers to a person's behavior of being overly protective, similar to how a mother hen cares for her chicks.

a face only a mother could love

This phrase humorously suggests that someone is not considered attractive by conventional standards.

Example: He's not conventionally attractive, some might say he has a face only a mother could love.

Note: It humorously implies that only a mother, with unconditional love, could find beauty in something that others may not.

to be a mother's boy / mama's boy

A 'mother's boy' or 'mama's boy' is a term used for a man who is overly attached to his mother and seeks her approval.

Example: He's such a mama's boy, always calling her for advice.

Note: It describes a person, usually a man, who is excessively reliant on his mother for emotional support or decision-making.

mother of all

The 'mother of all' is used to emphasize the extreme or ultimate nature of something.

Example: That storm was the mother of all storms, causing widespread damage.

Note: It conveys a sense of magnitude or intensity, suggesting that something is the biggest or most significant of its kind.

to have a face like a wet weekend

This phrase describes someone's facial expression as looking unhappy, miserable, or depressed.

Example: She walked in with a face like a wet weekend. Her expression was gloomy and sad.

Note: It uses a simile to compare someone's expression to a wet weekend, implying dreariness and lack of sunshine.

matriarch

A term for a female head of a family or group, often associated with strength and leadership.

Example: She's the matriarch of the family, always keeping everyone in line.

Note: Implies a position of authority and respect within a family or community.

mommy dearest

A term used sarcastically to refer to a mother who is strict or demanding.

Example: She can be quite the mommy dearest when you don't follow her rules.

Note: Carries a negative or critical connotation towards the mother's behavior.

motherhood

Refers to the state or experience of being a mother.

Example: Welcome to the joys and challenges of motherhood.

Note: Broadly encompasses the roles, responsibilities, and emotions associated with being a mother.

My mother is the most important person in my life.

She became a mother for the first time at the age of 25.

His mother-in-law is coming to visit them next week.

Mother - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)

Lemma: mother

Conjugations

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): mothers

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): mother

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): mothered

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): mothering

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): mothers

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): mother

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): mother

Syllables, Separation and Stress

mother Contains 2 syllables: moth • er

Phonetic transcription: ˈmə-t͟hər

moth er , ˈmə t͟hər (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

mother: 300 - 400 (Extremely common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Mother