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爸爸

bàba
dad

爸爸,我回来了!

Dad, I'm back!


informal

Informal term for father, used by children or in casual contexts.

爸爸正在厨房做饭。

Dad is cooking in the kitchen.

你爸爸在家吗?

Is your dad at home?

Used across all regions of China. In formal writing, 父亲 is preferred.

Collocations

爸爸妈妈parents爸爸的爱a father's love

Synonyms

父亲老爸爸

Pro Tip

Tone and Register

Use 爸爸 in casual speech or when addressing your father directly. In formal contexts (e.g., news reports, official documents), use 父亲.

Gold Rule

Addressing Family

When speaking to your father, 爸爸 is the most natural term. For third parties, 父亲 is neutral and respectful.

Word Origin

Combines 爸 (father) + 巴 (suffix indicating familiarity or endearment). The reduplication (爸爸) evolved into 爸爸 as a childish term, later adopted universally.

Usage Notes

1) Universally understood across Mandarin-speaking regions. 2) Adults may use it affectionately with elderly fathers. 3) Avoid using in formal documents; 父亲 is standard.

Word Breakdown

爸
father
root
+
巴
suffix denoting familiarity
suffix
汉英词典

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Words of the Year

The most notable words that defined each year. Discover the vocabulary that shaped our world.