- osoba near, close, beside, vicinity, proximity, besides, while; attendant, retainer, vassal
A literary or formal word meaning 'beside (a person of high status)' or 'attendant'; commonly encountered in historical fiction, period dramas, or formal speech, not everyday conversation.
お側に控えていなさい。
Osoba ni hikaete inasai.
Stay beside me (as an attendant).
彼は殿のお側で仕えた。
Kare wa tono no osoba de tsukaeta.
He served at the lord's side.
⚖️ Often confused with 'soba' (side/near) in modern Japanese; 'osoba' specifically implies proximity to a superior or the role of an attendant.
Press the microphone and say: お側
Ready to listen
💡 Use は or が to mark this word as the topic or subject of a sentence.
Found in a wide range of contexts. Useful for building reading and listening fluency.
Save personal notes for every word you study — memory hooks, your own sentences, grammar tips, and personal stories.
Synced to your account · Anki export · Accessible on every device
Create Free AccountReview Premium options
Create a free account to sync your level, streaks, and progress across all devices.
Already a member? Sign in →
Sign in or create a free account to keep your history.
Reset mastery for this word?
Review scheduling updates after each session.
Based on JLPT level, kanji complexity & word length.