Japanese kanji 父: father

The idea

A kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on); learn each reading with its word. Compare 父（ちち） and お父さん（おとうさん） in the table. 父 has 4 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• 朝あさ、父ちちはコーヒーを飲のみます。My father drinks coffee in the morning.
• お父とうさんはお元気げんきですか。Is your father well?
• 父ちちと駅えきへ行いきます。I go to the station with my father.
• 友達ともだちのお父とうさんは先生せんせいです。My friend’s father is a teacher.
• 父親ちちおやが子供こどもと遊あそんでいます。A father is playing with a child.
• 祖父そふは毎日まいにち、散歩さんぽします。My grandfather takes a walk every day.

Watch out

父 is read ちち, while お父さん is read おとうさん. Learn the reading of each complete word; the character does not have just one pronunciation. When talking to others about your own father, 父 is usual; お父さん is used for someone else’s father and to address your own.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 父 in hiragana.

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   ちち

   父 is read ちち; the expression means “my father”.

2. Write the reading of お父さん in hiragana.

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   おとうさん

   お父さん is read おとうさん; the expression means “father; dad”.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: お＿さん（おとうさん）.

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   父

   父 completes お父さん, read おとうさん; the expression means “father; dad”.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 父 from memory, and read 父 and お父さん aloud. Check both the readings and meanings.