Japanese Symbol for
父chichi
father · dad
Readings
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.
Example words
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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