How to say 'Father' or 'Old man' in Japanese | 親父

word

Meaning

Father, Old man

Reading

Kanji

親Parent 父Father

Explanation

The Japanese noun '親父 (おやじ)' has two distinct meanings. The first meaning is 'father', often used in a casual or affectionate way, typically by adult children when referring to their own father. For example: my father is strict「私の親父は厳しい」(わたしのおやじはきびしい). The second meaning is 'old man', which can be used to refer to an older man, often in a somewhat informal or colloquial context. For example: that old man is kind「あの親父は優しい」(あのおやじはやさしい). Note that the tone can vary depending on the context, and it may carry a sense of familiarity or even slight roughness.

Part Of Speech

noun

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

2341

Composition

kanji

Handwriting