ばば・婆baba[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounold woman
2. noun, card gamesjoker (in old maid)

• SynonymおばあさんNeutralGrandma, or an old lady, said with warm respect; 「婆（ばば）」 is more colloquial and often sounds contemptuous.
• Synonym老女ろうじょWrittenWritten: an aged woman, with a classical flavour; rarely used today.
• Synonym老婦ろうふWrittenWritten: an elderly woman, used in descriptive prose.
• Synonym老婆ろうばWrittenWritten: an old woman, as in 「老婆心」. Unlike in Chinese, it does not mean 'wife'.
• SynonymばあさんCasualColloquial 'old lady', as in 「隣の婆さん」; more casual than 「おばあさん」.
• Synonym姥うばWrittenWritten: an old woman, or the old-woman mask of Noh theatre; it has a classical flavour.
• SynonymおばあさまFormalHonorific: grandmother, or an elderly lady, spoken politely and respectfully.
• AntonymじじCasualColloquial 'old man', often contemptuous or affectionate; the male counterpart of 「婆」 for elderly people.
• Antonym若者わかものNeutralA young person, contrasting with 「婆」 in age.

「婆（ばば）」 is a slangy word for an old woman, often contemptuous but sometimes affectionate; it is also the joker in cards, as in 「ババ抜き」. Say 「おばあさん」 to be respectful and 「老婆」 in writing; the opposites are 「爺」 and 「若者」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 高齢こうれいの女性じょせい。老ろう婦ふ。
2. トランプのジョーカー。