What else can you call a JSON object - is it hash map? - conceptual questions

One thing bothered me quite a bit when learning Javascript while trying to incorporate CS concepts - what exactly is JSON? I heard of people calling it associative arrays, key value pair objects, Javascript Objects.

Correct me if I'm wrong - I know in Java Hash Maps are more or less key value pairs. Since I feel like JSON shares a lot of properties with that, can I safely call JSON objects hash maps without sounding like an idiot in interviews?

Thanks