父
[t͡ɕi̥t͡ɕi]
The English phrase 'my father' is translated into Japanese as 父.
When speaking to someone outside of your family about your own father, you use 父 (chichi) to show humility. In casual, everyday conversations, the term tōsan is also used to refer to one's own father.
Which one should you use?
父 (chichi) is a humble or neutral term used when speaking about your own father to others. In contrast, お父さん (otōsan) is the standard polite or honorific way to address your own father directly or to refer to someone else's father. You should generally avoid using お父さん to refer to your own father when speaking to someone outside your family in a formal context.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate possession, such as 'my father', the particle no is used, as in watashi no chichi.
Did you know?
- Using the honorific お父さん (otōsan) to describe your own father to a boss or client can actually be seen as boastful or impolite.
- Early forms of the word for father included kaso and kazo in the 8th century, but these disappeared from common use by the early 1600s.
- The term otōsan is thought to have evolved from a contraction of the word totosan.
Examples in context
- 父が来ます。My father is coming.This sentence is useful for stating that your father is coming.Tatoeba #11940207 by small_snow, translation #11827692 by ddnktr
- 父は不在です。My father is away from home.This sentence is useful for stating that your father is away from home.Tatoeba #84386 by bunbuku, translation #251665 by CK
- 父は元気です。My father is in good health.This sentence is useful for stating that your father is in good health.Tatoeba #84594 by bunbuku, translation #319120 by CK
- 私の父はとても頭が良いです。My father is very intelligent.
- 父へのプレゼントに何が良いでしょうか？What would be a good gift for my father?
- 明日、とうさんと釣りに行く予定です。I plan to go fishing with my dad tomorrow.
- とうさんの料理が一番美味しい！My dad's cooking is the most delicious!
- 659 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are talking about their families.
- 結衣 Yui父はエンジニアです。Chichi wa enjinia desu.My father is an engineer.
- 健太 Kentaそれはすごいですね。Sore wa sugoi desu ne.That is impressive.
- 結衣 Yui父は仕事が大好きです。Chichi wa shigoto ga daisuki desu.My father loves his job.
- 健太 Kentaいいお父さんですね。Ii otousan desu ne.He sounds like a great father.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 父, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 父, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
