お父さん

• Reading: おとうさん
• Romaji: otousan
• Kanji breakdown: 父 (tou/chichi) — father; お〜さん — honorific address form
• Pronunciation: /o.toː.saɴ/

Meaning

Father; dad; daddy. The polite or familiar term of address for a father.

The honorific form used when addressing your own father directly or when referring to someone else's father. Children typically call their father お父さん at home. This contrasts with 父, which is the humble form used when talking about your own father to outsiders.

Examples

1. お父さん、今日は何時に帰りますか。 Dad, what time are you coming home today?
2. 田中さんのお父さんは医者です。 Tanaka's father is a doctor.
3. お父さんと一緒に買い物に行きました。 I went shopping with my dad.

Usage Guide

Context: home life, talking about others' fathers, direct address

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Formed by adding the honorific prefix お to 父さん (tousan). The さん suffix adds politeness and familiarity, making it suitable for direct address.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal