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Kotomora

父

father

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes4

Readings

On'yomi

  • フ

Kun'yomi

  • ちち

Meaning

父 centers on the concept of a father or male parent.

Most common words using 父

20 of 137
  • 父ちち
    N5

    father

  • 父親ちちおや
    N3

    father

  • 伯父さんおじさん
    N5

    uncle

  • お父さんおとうさん
    N5

    father; dad; papa; pa; pop; daddy; dada

  • 親父おやじ
    N1

    one's father; one's old man; dad; pops

  • 祖父そふ
    N4

    grandfather

  • 叔父おじ
    N4

    uncle

  • 神父しんぷ
    N1

    Catholic priest; abbe; reverend father; minister; padre

  • 義父ぎふ
    N1

    father-in-law

  • 父さんとうさん

    father; dad; papa; pa; pop; daddy; dada

  • お祖父さんおじいさん
    N5

    grandfather

  • 伯父えおじ

    uncle (one's father's older brother)

  • 祖父母そふぼ
    N2

    grandparents

  • 父ちゃんとうちゃん

    dad; daddy; papa; pa; pop

  • 父母ふぼ
    N2

    father and mother; parents

  • 父上ちちうえ

    father

  • 父子ふし

    father and child; father and son; father and daughter

  • 父兄ふけい
    N1

    guardians; parents

  • 養父ようふ

    foster father; adoptive father

  • 父方ちちかた

    father's side of family

Explore all words using 父 →

Study

Etymology

父 is a pictograph of a hand holding a stone axe, representing a father's authority or role in ancient society. The modern form is stylized but retains the basic crossed-hand shape.

Meaning mnemonic

The crossed strokes look like a strong hand holding a tool, symbolizing a father's guiding and protective role.

Reading mnemonic

For フ, imagine a father blowing a soft 'fu' sound to cool his child's soup: fu -> フ, a gentle fatherly act.