Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
お父さん. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
お父さん, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
お父さん in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
お父さん you have here. The definition of the word
お父さん will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
お父さん, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Japanese
| Alternative spelling
|
| 御父さん
|
Etymology
Originally a compound of 御 (o-, “honorific prefix”) + 父 (toto, “father”) + 様 (-sama, “honorific suffix”).
/ototosama/ → /otottsan/ → /otossan/
The /otossan/ → /otoosan/ progression was artificial; regular Japanese sound changes generally would not allow this shift. The /otoosan/ form first appears in the early Meiji period in educational materials mandated by the 文部省 (Monbushō, “Ministry of Education”).
Pronunciation
Noun
お父さん • (otōsan)
- (honorific) father
- Synonyms: (only used to talk about one's own father) 父 (ちち, chichi), (more general and impersonal) 父親 (ちちおや, chichioya), (more formal) 父上 (ちちうえ, chichiue), (more informal, similar to old man) 親父 (おやじ, oyaji), (Kagoshima) おやっどん (oyaddon)
Usage notes
This term is used to describe someone's father. For father in the more general sense of male parent, use the term 父親 (chichioya) instead.
Descendants
References