Japanese Symbol for

chichi

father · dad

Readings

  • ONfu
  • KUNちちchichi
  • POLITEおとうさんotōsan

Meaning

Father. 父 (chichi) is the humble/plain form used when referring to your own father. お父さん (otōsan) is used when addressing your father directly, or when referring to someone else's father respectfully.

父親

chichioya

father (formal)

父さん

tōsan

dad (casual)

祖父

sofu

grandfather

父国

fukoku

fatherland, home country

父上

chichiue

father (old/literary honorific)

義父

gifu

father-in-law, stepfather

Like mother (母), Japanese uses different words for father depending on context. 父 (chichi) is used when referring to your own father to others — the humble form. お父さん (otōsan) is used when speaking to your father directly, or about someone else's. Confusing these registers is a common mistake for Japanese learners.

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