Japanese · Family & People
祖父母
sofubo
Grandparents
Intermediatenoun
Definition
Refers to grandparents collectively. 祖父 (sofu) is grandfather and 祖母 (sobo) is grandmother when speaking humbly about your own.
Example
祖父母は田舎に住んでいます。
My grandparents live in the countryside.
Etymology
祖父母 (sofubo) is a compound of 祖 (so), meaning 'ancestor', and 父母 (fubo), meaning 'parents'. It reflects the importance of lineage in Japanese culture.
How & Where It’s Used
Sofubo is used informally to refer to grandparents and is commonly found in spoken language as well as in family discussions.