Japanese Conversation · Level 14
90 words
Japanese word
じいさん
Pronunciation
Romajijiisan
Meaning
- noungrandpa
Example
うちのじいさんは元気です。u chi no ji i sa n wa gen ki de su
My grandpa is doing well.
More examples
子どものころ、じいさんとよく将棋をしました。ko do mo no ko ro ji i sa n to yo ku shō gi o shi ma shi ta
When I was a child, I often played shogi with my grandpa.
Core concept
Frames a grandfather or older man as a familiar, personally connected figure rather than a formal social category.
Common phrases
うちのじいさんu chi no ji i sa n
my grandpa
じいさんの家ji i sa n no ie
grandpa's house
じいさんと話すji i sa n to hana su
talk with grandpa
Similar words
おじいさんojiisan: A polite or neutral term for a grandfather or an older man.
おじいちゃんojiichan: An affectionate, familiar term for a grandfather or an older man.
祖父sofu: A formal term for one's grandfather, used mainly in written or careful speech.
Definition in Japanese
祖父や年配の男性を指したり呼びかけたりするくだけた語。so fu ya nen pai no dan sei o sa shi ta ri yo bi ka ke ta ri su ru ku da ke ta go
Word origin
The colloquial noun じいさん (jiisan) comes from 爺 (jī, "old man" or "grandfather") plus さん (san), an honorific suffix.
Usage tips
- Unlike English "grandpa," じいさん (jiisan) can refer to an unrelated older man, especially in casual dialogue or when describing a character.
Other meanings
- old mannoun