Nuance & Usage
父 (chichi) follows the same humble/honorific pattern as 母 (haha). Use 父 when referring to your own father to others, and お父さん (otousan) when addressing your father directly or referring to someone else's father. 父 appears in compounds: 父親 (chichioya — father), 父母 (fubo — father and mother, parents), 祖父 (sofu — grandfather). In modern casual speech, パパ (papa) is also common among younger generations.
Common Mistakes
Same as with 母: avoid using お父さん when talking about your own father to outsiders. ✗ 私のお父さんは医者です。 ✓ 私の父は医者です。 Also, 父 can be confused with 夫 (otto — husband) by beginners — these are entirely different words. Be especially careful in formal writing and job interviews where the correct humble form matters.
Example Sentences (3)
父は毎朝新聞を読みます。
ちちはまいあさしんぶんをよみます。
My father reads the newspaper every morning.
父は会社員です。
ちちはかいしゃいんです。
My father is a company employee.
山田さんのお父さんはどちらにお勤めですか？
やまださんのおとうさんはどちらにおつとめですか？
Where does Yamada-san's father work?
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 父 with 4 different question types.
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