Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 爸爸 | bàba |
| 爸 | bà |
| 爹 | diē |
爸爸 is the standard and widely used way to say dad in Chinese. 爸爸 is the standard, most common way for children and adults to address or refer to their father.
Which one should you use?
While 爸爸 is the standard form, 爸 can be used in an informal setting to address your father. In contrast, 爹 is considered archaic or literary and is rarely used in modern daily conversation except in period dramas or specific regional dialects.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The single-syllable form 爸 is often used as a direct vocative when calling out to one's father. The most formal way to address your father in Chinese is 父亲.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions and dialects, such as in Taiwan and parts of southern China, 阿爸 is used to address one's father in a more affectionate manner. In northern parts of China, it is common to hear people say 老爹 to refer to their fathers in an informal context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The second syllable in 爸爸 is typically pronounced with a neutral tone (light tone) in standard Mandarin.
How do you pronounce it?
bàba
Did you know?
- The word 爹 may have been borrowed from an ancient Turkic language, making it a distant relative of the Old Turkic word 'ata' for 'father'.
- In traditional Chinese culture, referring to one's father as 老爹 (old dad) is not considered disrespectful, but rather a sign of casual intimacy and closeness.
- While 爸爸 is the modern standard, the ancient word for father 父 changed its sound over time, and the word 爸 was created to keep the 'b' sound that mimics baby talk.
Examples in context
- 爸爸去哪了?Where did dad go?This sentence demonstrates how to use 爸爸 when asking about a father's location.Tatoeba #3147854 by cienias, translation #318877 by minshirui
- 你爸爸在哪？Where is your dad?This sentence shows how to use 爸爸 when asking about someone else's father.Tatoeba #13189733 by LeviHighway, translation #13189643 by ecorralest101
- 爸，你干啥呢？What are you doing, Dad?This sentence illustrates the use of the informal form 爸 when calling out to a father.Tatoeba #4265109 by notabene, translation #64110 by CK
- 爸，我们一起去看电影吧Dad, let's go watch a movie together!
- 68 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yuting is showing Junjie a photo on her phone.
- 雨婷 Yuting这是我爸爸。Zhè shì wǒ bàba.This is my dad.
- 俊杰 Junjie他看起来很年轻。Tā kàn qǐlái hěn niánqīng.He looks very young.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢，我爸爸经常锻炼。Xièxie, wǒ bàba jīngcháng duànliàn.Thanks, my dad exercises often.
- 俊杰 Junjie我也想这么健康。Wǒ yě xiǎng zhème jiànkāng.I want to be that healthy too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dad” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 爸, 爹, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
