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父
chichi
father
父は医者です。
My father is a doctor.
formal
A male parent.
父は厳しいですが、優しい人です。
My father is strict but a kind person.
父は今年還暦を迎えます。
My father will turn 60 this year.
Used in formal contexts or when referring to one's own father. Often replaced with 父親 (ちちおや) in polite speech.
formal
Father (as a title or term of address).
父が呼んでいます。
Father is calling.
Used when addressing or referring to someone else's father in formal settings.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Politeness Tip
When speaking to others about your own father, use お父さん (おとうさん) in casual contexts (e.g., 父は医者です → お父さんは医者です). Reserve 父 for formal writing or when referring to someone else's father.
Gold Rule
Family Terms Rule
For family terms like 父, the humble form (used for one's own family) is often different from the honorific form (used for others' family). Always match the politeness level to the context.
Word Origin
From Old Japanese ちち (chichi), from Proto-Japonic *təti, ultimately from Proto-Japonic *təti.
Usage Notes
In casual speech, 父 (ちち) is often replaced with お父さん (おとうさん) when referring to one's own father. Using 父 in direct address (e.g., calling someone else's father 父) is formal and may sound stiff in modern contexts.
Word Breakdown
父
father
root和英辞典