Japanese · Family & People
お父さん
otousan
Father
Beginnernoun
Definition
The polite/respectful word for father. Used when referring to someone else's father or addressing your own. The humble form 父 (chichi) is used when speaking about your own father to others.
Example
お父さんは何の仕事をしていますか？
What kind of work does your father do?
Etymology
'お父さん' (otousan) merges the honorific prefix 'お' with '父' (chichi), demonstrating the cultural significance of respect and familial roles in Japanese.
How & Where It’s Used
'お父さん' (otousan) is widely used informally within families but can also be used formally and respectfully in broader social contexts.