爸爸
bàba
爸爸 (bàba) is the Chinese way to say daddy. Wiktionary also lists 爹 (diē).
Meaning: (informal, usually childish) father (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 爸爸 | bàba |
| 爹 | diē |
爸爸 is an informal term used primarily by children or young people to refer to their father. It is the most common and widely used way to say daddy in modern Chinese.
Which one should you use?
爸爸 is the standard term for a child to use. In contrast, 爹 is an archaic or literary term for father that you will often encounter in older literature or historical dramas.
How does it change in a sentence?
When pronouncing 爸爸, the second syllable is typically pronounced with a neutral tone (bàba) rather than a fourth tone (bàbà) in standard speech.
How do you pronounce it?
bàba
Did you know?
- In modern internet slang, 爸爸 is used to describe someone who provides financial support or holds a position of power, regardless of any biological relation.
- Some scholars believe 爹 may have been borrowed from the Proto-Turkic word *ata, suggesting ancient contact between early Chinese speakers and Central Asian nomads.
- In traditional Chinese historical dramas, the doublet 爹爹 is often used to convey a sense of intimacy and affection that the single syllable 爹 lacks.
Examples in context
- 爸爸去哪了?Where did Daddy go?This sentence shows how to use 爸爸 to ask about someone's location.Tatoeba #3147854 by cienias, translation #5134163 by Joseph
- 爸爸在他的办公室里，在我们公寓楼下。Daddy was in his office, under our flat.This sentence uses 爸爸 to describe where a father is located.Tatoeba #13911136 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #35109 by sacredceltic
- 爸爸在哪？Where's Daddy?This sentence uses 爸爸 to ask for a father's whereabouts.Tatoeba #13119020 by LeviHighway, translation #866504 by papabear
- 他是我的爸爸。He is my father.
- 爸，我们一起去看电影吧！Dad, let's go watch a movie together!
- 爹爹，您回来了！Dad, you're back!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A daughter is asking her father to play with her.
- 伟 Wei爸爸，你陪我玩吧！Bàba, nǐ péi wǒ wán ba!Daddy, please play with me!
- 晓雯 Xiaowen现在不行，爸爸在工作。Xiànzài bùxíng, bàba zài gōngzuò.Not right now, daddy is working.
- 伟 Wei那你什么时候能陪我？Nà nǐ shénme shíhòu néng péi wǒ?Then when can you play with me?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen等我忙完就陪你。Děng wǒ máng wán jiù péi nǐ.I will play with you once I'm done.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “daddy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 爹, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
