Translation and Meaning of: 父 - chichi

The Japanese word 父[ちち] is a fundamental term for those learning the language or interested in Japanese culture. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and usage in everyday life, as well as curiosities that help understand how the Japanese view this word. If you are looking for reliable information about 父[ちち], you have come to the right place – Suki Nihongo, the best online Japanese dictionary.

父[ちち] means "father" and is one of the most common ways to refer to a parent in Japanese. Unlike other languages, Japanese has variations for the same word depending on the context and level of formality. Here, we will uncover when and how to use 父[ちち], as well as delve into cultural details that make this word so special.

Meaning and origin of 父[ちち]

The word 父[ちち] has ancient roots in the Japanese language and is written with the kanji 父, which represents the paternal figure. This character is composed of strokes that symbolize strength and authority, reflecting the traditional role of the father in Japanese society. The reading ちち (chichi) is one of the most commonly used in daily life, while other readings, such as とう (tou), appear in different contexts.

Interestingly, 父[ちち] is a word that carries a more intimate and familiar tone. In contrast to お父さん[おとうさん] (otousan), which is more polite and common in everyday conversations, ちち is often used when referring to one's own father to others. This nuance is essential to avoid mistakes in social or professional situations.

Cultural and social use of 父[ちち]

In Japan, the relationship with the paternal figure has changed over the years, and the word 父[ちち] reflects part of this evolution. Traditionally, the father was seen as the provider and head of the family, but today many young people use more affectionate terms, such as パパ (papa), influenced by Western culture. Still, ちち retains its place in formal and written contexts.

An interesting fact is that in some regions of Japan, local dialects have variations of 父[ちち]. For example, in Okinawa, one might hear うふー (ufuu) instead of the standard form. These differences show how the Japanese language is rich and diverse, even in seemingly simple words.

Tips for memorizing 父[ちち]

If you are learning Japanese, an effective way to remember 父[ちち] is to associate the kanji 父 with a mental image. The character looks like a man holding a tool, which evokes the idea of a hardworking father. Another tip is to practice with sentences like "これは私の父です" (Kore wa watashi no chichi desu – "This is my father"), which help reinforce the correct usage.

Additionally, listening to music or watching Japanese movies where the word appears can be a natural way to absorb its meaning. Many family dramas, for example, use 父[ちち] in emotional scenes, which makes memorization easier through emotional context.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• お父さん (otousan) - Father (common, respectful term)
• 父親 (chichioya) - Father (more formal term)
• パパ (papa) - Dad (affectionate and informal term)
• 父上 (chichiue) - Father (a very respectful, archaic term)

父

Romaji: chichi
Kana: ちち
Type: noun
L: -

Translation / Meaning: dad

Meaning in English: father

Definition: Father: Father of male children.

Example Sentences - (父) chichi

See below some example sentences:

私は祖父から受け継いだ家族の伝統を大切にしています。

Watashi wa sofu kara uketsuguida kazoku no dentō o taisetsu ni shiteimasu

I value my family tradition that I inherited from my grandfather.

I value the family tradition inherited from my grandfather.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 祖父 - noun meaning "grandfather" in Japanese
• から - particle that indicates the origin or starting point
• 受け継いだ - verb meaning "to inherit" or "to receive as an inheritance"
• 家族 - noun meaning "family" in Japanese
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 伝統 - noun meaning "tradition" in Japanese
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 大切にしています - verbal expression that means "to value" or "to give importance"

私の祖父はとても優しい人です。

Watashi no sofu wa totemo yasashii hito desu

My grandfather is a very kind person.

My grandfather is a very kind person.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "my"
• 祖父 - "Grandfather"
• は - particle indicating the topic of the sentence, in this case, "as for my grandfather"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 優しい - adjective meaning "kind"
• 人 - noun that means "person"
• です - verb indicating the polite form of the present, in this case, "is"

お父さんは私のヒーローです。

Otousan wa watashi no hiroo desu

My father is my hero.

Dad is my hero.

• お父さん - dad
• は - Topic particle
• 私の - mine
• ヒーロー - hero
• です - is

お祖父さんはとても優しい人です。

Ojiisan wa totemo yasashii hito desu

My grandfather is a very kind person.

• お祖父さん - Grandmother
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 優しい - kind
• 人 - person
• です - Ser/estar (polite form)

父は私のヒーローです。

Chichi wa watashi no hiiroo desu

My father is my hero.

• 父 (chichi) - dad
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私 (watashi) - I
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• ヒーロー (hiiroo) - hero
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

私の父母はとても優しいです。

Watashi no chichibo wa totemo yasashii desu

My parents are very kind.

• 私 (watashi) - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の (no) - possession particle indicating that "father and mother" belong to "me"
• 父母 (fubo) - a word that means "father and mother" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle indicating that "father and mother" are the subject of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very" in Japanese
• 優しい (yasashii) - adjective meaning "gentle" or "kind" in Japanese
• です (desu) - being verb that indicates that "father and mother" are "very kind"

私の伯父はとても親切です。

Watashi no oji wa totemo shinsetsu desu

My uncle is very kind.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle indicating possession, equivalent to "de" in Portuguese
• 伯父 (oji) - noun meaning "paternal uncle"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "é" in Portuguese
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 親切 (shinsetsu) - adjective meaning "kind", "gentle"
• です (desu) - linking verb that indicates the existence or quality of the subject, equivalent to "ser" or "estar" in Portuguese

私の親父はとても頑固です。

Watashi no oyaji wa totemo ganko desu

My father is very stubborn.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "my"
• 親父 (oyaji) - noun that means "father"
• は (wa) - particle indicating the topic of the sentence, in this case "father"
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 頑固 (ganko) - adjective meaning "stubborn"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb indicating present tense and formality, in this case "is"

私の父は工場で働いています。

Watashi no chichi wa koujou de hataraite imasu

My father works in a factory.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 父 (chichi) - means "father" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 工場 (koujou) - means "factory" in Japanese
• で (de) - Particle that indicates the place where the action occurs
• 働いています (hataraitteimasu) - means "is working" in Japanese

私は祖父の仕事を継ぐつもりです。

Watashi wa sofu no shigoto wo tsugu tsumori desu

I intend to follow my grandfather's work.

I will take on my grandfather's work.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - topic particle, indicating that the subject of the sentence is "I"
• 祖父 - noun "grandfather"
• の - possessive particle, indicating that the grandfather is "mine"
• 仕事 - "work"
• を - direct object particle, indicating that work is the object of the action
• 継ぐ - verb "to continue", "successor"
• つもり - expression indicating intention or plan
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form