ひいおじいさん
hīojiisan
The Japanese phrase for "great grandfather" is ひいおじいさん (hīojiisan).
ひいおじいさん is used to refer to the father of one's grandparent.
Which one should you use?
ひいおじいさん is the standard way to refer to him in conversation. In contrast, 曾祖父 and 高祖父 are formal terms. 高祖父 is specifically a formal, technical term used in genealogy or official documents.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ひいおじいさん is an informal way to say great grandfather. For more formal contexts, you can use 曾祖父 or 高祖父. Examples of terms used for a great grandfather include 曾祖父様 and お曾祖父様.
How do you pronounce it?
hīojiisan
Did you know?
- The prefix ひい can be added repeatedly to go further back in the family tree. A great-great-grandfather is called ひいひいおじいさん.
- In some traditional Japanese contexts, the concept of a great grandfather is linked to 'ancestor worship', where his name might be used in specific rituals.
- When talking about someone else's great-grandfather, a speaker might use ひいおじいさま to show respect to the other person's family.
Examples in context
- ひいおじいさんは、とても元気です。hiiojiisan wa, totemo genki desu.My great grandfather is very energetic.
- ひいおじいさんの写真は、古いものです。hiiojiisan no shashin wa, furui mono desu.The photo of my great grandfather is old.
- ひいおじいさんは、歴史の先生でした。hiiojiisan wa, rekishi no sensei deshita.My great grandfather was a history teacher.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are looking at a family photo album.
- 陽太 Yotaこの人はだれ？Kono hito wa dare?Who is this person?
- 陽葵 Himariわたしのひいおじいさんだよ。Watashi no hii-ojiisan dayo.This is my great grandfather.
- 陽太 Yotaとてもかっこいいね。Totemo kakkoii ne.He is very cool.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう。Arigatou.Thank you.
