岳父

• Pinyin: yuè fù
• Hanzi breakdown: 岳 = 山 + 丘 (high mountain; honorific for in-laws); 父 = 父 (father)

Meaning

Father-in-law (wife's father). The father of one's spouse, specifically referring to the wife's father.

Used exclusively for the wife's father. The husband's father is called 公公. Formal and respectful; in speech one often says 丈人 (colloquial) or addresses him directly by title.

Examples

1. 他的岳父是一位退休的大学教授，学识渊博。 His father-in-law is a retired university professor with an impressive depth of knowledge.
2. 婚礼前夕，他拜访了岳父表达敬意。 On the eve of the wedding, he visited his father-in-law to show his respect.
3. 岳父对这门婚事非常满意，欣然同意了。 His father-in-law was very pleased with the marriage and readily gave his approval.

Usage Guide

Context: family, social

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 我岳父身体一直很硬朗，今年七十岁了还坚持锻炼。(My father-in-law is very healthy — he still exercises regularly at seventy.)
• 他特意赶回去参加岳父的退休宴会。(He rushed back especially to attend his father-in-law's retirement banquet.)

Don't Say

• 老丈人 in formal writing — 老丈人 is colloquial/casual; use 岳父 in formal contexts

Origin & History

岳 (mountain/father-in-law honorific) + 父 (father)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal