Japanese Conversation · Level 21
90 words
Japanese word
祖父
Pronunciation
Romajisofu
Meaning
- noungrandpa
Example
週末に祖父を訪ねます。shū matsu ni so fu o tazu ne ma su
I visit my grandpa on weekends.
More examples
祖父は本を読みます。so fu wa hon o yo mi ma su
My grandpa reads a book.
祖父は毎朝新聞を読みます。so fu wa mai asa shin bun o yo mi ma su
My grandpa reads the newspaper every morning.
Core concept
Centers on the father of one's parent as a familiar older family member.
Common phrases
祖父の家so fu no ie
grandpa's house
祖父を訪ねるso fu o tazu ne ru
visit grandpa
Similar words
おじいちゃんojiichan: A familiar term for the father of one's parent.
おじいさんojiisan: A polite term for the father of one's parent.
Definition in Japanese
父または母の父にあたる人。chichi ma ta wa haha no chichi ni a ta ru hito
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese compound 祖父 (sofu, "grandfather") combines 祖 (so, "ancestor") and 父 (fu, "father").
Usage tips
- In everyday English, grandpa is a familiar and informal form used more often in conversation than in formal writing.