父
Father
| on’yomi | kun’yomi | Radicals |
|---|---|---|
| n/i | ちち | 父 |
Meaning: Father
The radical and the kanji for father are the same.
No, I am not your father… but this kanji / radical set is!
Reading: n/i
There’s no really useful on’yomi reading for this kanji, so instead you’ll just be learning the vocab.
Vocabulary
If you’ve done any really basic Japanese classes or programs, one of the first things they do is teach you family member words. If you’ve done this, then maybe you already know the following two words. If you don’t, don’t worry about it – you’ll know them now (or soon, when we come back and study the common words).
a 父（ちち）＝ Father
- Meaning: This is the more casual word for father, which is why it tends to be used with your own father.
- Reading: The reading is the kun’yomi – Imagine your father is Cheech (ちち) from Cheech and Chongs.
a 父さん（とうさん）＝ Father (Formal)
- Meaning: This is the more formal way of saying father. Generally, it’s used on other people’s fathers, because it’s nice to respect other people’s fathers, you know?
- Reading: The reading is a weird reading, you’ll want to learn this one straight up. Often times there’s an お added to the beginning too, so look out for お父さん (おとうさん).