The Japanese word for father is otōsan and chichi. Otōsan is the general word for father while chichi is used when talking about your father to other people.
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| Romanji | Kanji | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Father おとうさん | Otōsan | お父さん | |
| Father ちち | Chichi | 父 | |
| Father (English loanword) パパ | Papa | None | |
| Stepfather ままちち | Mamachichi | 継父 | |
| Father-in-law ぎふ | Gifu | 義父 |
Interesting facts
Most foreigners in Japan might be surprised to learn that it’s actually quite common for young Japanese children to call their father papa. This loanword is frequently used in casual situations but is usually not used in polite company.