Mother
母
Mother
Kun-yomi 🇯🇵:
はは (haha)
(Japanese reading)On-yomi 🇨🇳:
ボ (bo)
(Chinese-derived reading)
Pronunciation rules
- はは (haha) is the kun-yomi used when the kanji stands alone meaning "mother".
- ボ (bo) is the on-yomi used in compounds like 父母 (ふぼ, fubo: parents).
- In polite form お母さん (おかあさん, okaasan), it uses the kun-yomi かあ (kaa).
- Etymology: Picture of a sitting woman → mother
Examples
Kun-yomiNative Japanese Readings
母 が います。
There is a mother.
Uses kun-yomi はは (haha) when the kanji stands alone meaning mother
お母さん です。
It's mother (polite).
Uses kun-yomi かあ (kaa) in polite form お母さん
On-yomiSino-Japanese Readings
父母 です。
It's parents.
Uses on-yomi ボ (bo) in compound 父母
Quick facts
- Radical: 母 (itself)
- Strokes: 5
- Common compounds: 父母 (ふぼ, fubo), お母さん (おかあさん, okaasan)
- ⚠️ Reading usage:
- Standalone: はは (haha) - mother
- In compounds: ぼ (bo) - mother
- Polite form: おかあさん (okaasan) - mother
Key Words
母 - mother
お母さん - mother (polite)
父母 - parents