How to say "grandfather" in Japanese
"Grandfather" in Japanese is 祖父 (sofu) when talking about your own. For someone else's grandfather, say おじいさん (ojiisan). Within the family, おじいちゃん (ojiichan) is common.
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Ways to say "grandfather" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 祖父そふ · sofu | Grandfather (your own, when talking to others). |
| おじいさんおじいさん · ojiisan | Grandfather (someone else's); elderly man. |
| おじいちゃんおじいちゃん · ojiichan | Grandpa (affectionate). |
How to use it
おじいさん also means an elderly man in general.
Careful: おじいさん (long ii) is grandfather, and おじさん (short i) is uncle or middle-aged man.
Example sentences
- 祖父は九十歳です。Sofu wa kyūjussai desu.My grandfather is ninety.
- おじいちゃん、元気？Ojiichan, genki?How are you, Grandpa?
- 田中さんのおじいさんは農家です。Tanaka-san no ojiisan wa nōka desu.Mr. Tanaka's grandfather is a farmer.
- 夏休みに祖父の家に行きました。Natsuyasumi ni sofu no ie ni ikimashita.I visited my grandfather's house during summer vacation.
- 祖父から昔の話を聞きました。Sofu kara mukashi no hanashi o kikimashita.My grandfather told me stories from the old days.
- 電車でおじいさんに席を譲りました。Densha de ojiisan ni seki o yuzurimashita.I gave my seat to an elderly man on the train.
Kanji in this word
Questions
What is the difference between おじいさん and おじさん?
おじいさん (ojiisan, long ii) means grandfather or an elderly man. おじさん (ojisan, short i) means uncle or a middle-aged man.
How do you say "grandmother" in Japanese?
Grandmother is 祖母 (sobo) for your own, and おばあさん (obāsan) for someone else's.
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