日
学
夢
本
語
心
Father
父
Father
Kun-yomi 🇯🇵:
ちち (chichi)
(Japanese reading)
On-yomi 🇨🇳:
フ (fu)
(Chinese-derived reading)
Father
Father

Pronunciation rules

  • ちち (chichi) is the kun-yomi used when the kanji stands alone meaning "father".
  • フ (fu) is the on-yomi used in compounds like 父母 (ふぼ, fubo: parents).
  • In polite form お父さん (おとうさん, otousan), it uses the kun-yomi とう (tou).
  • Etymology: Hand holding an axe → father's role → father

Examples

Kun-yomiNative Japanese Readings
父 が います。
There is a father.
Uses kun-yomi ちち (chichi) when the kanji stands alone meaning father
お父さん です。
It's father (polite).
Uses kun-yomi とう (tou) in polite form お父さん
On-yomiSino-Japanese Readings
父母 です。
It's parents.
Uses on-yomi フ (fu) in compound 父母

Quick facts

  • Radical: 父 (itself)
  • Strokes: 4
  • Common compounds: 父母 (ふぼ, fubo), お父さん (おとうさん, otousan)
  • ⚠️ Reading usage:
    • Standalone: ちち (chichi) - father
    • In compounds: ふ (fu) - father
    • Polite form: おとうさん (otousan) - father

Key Words

父 - father
お父さん - father (polite)
父母 - parents