祖父(そふ)

そふ
noun
grandfather
1. grandfather
The father of one's parent.
祖父(そふ)は元気(げんき)です。
My grandfather is doing well.
祖父(そふ)は医者(いしゃ)だった。
My grandfather was a doctor.
祖父(そふ)から昔(むかし)の話(はなし)を聞(き)いた。
I heard stories about the old days from my grandfather.
夏休(なつやす)みに祖父(そふ)の家(いえ)に遊(あそ)びに行(い)った。
I went to visit my grandfather's house during summer vacation.
祖父(そふ)は今年(ことし)八十(はちじゅう)歳(さい)になるけれど、まだとても元気(げんき)で毎日(まいにち)散歩(さんぽ)している。
My grandfather will turn 80 this year, but he's still very healthy and takes a walk every day.

祖父(そふ) is the formal term for one's own grandfather, used in polite or written contexts.

FORMALITY LEVELS:

  • 祖父(そふ): formal (own grandfather)
  • おじいちゃん: casual/affectionate
  • おじいさん: neutral/someone else's grandfather

DISTINGUISHING GRANDFATHERS:

  • 父方(ちちかた)の祖父(そふ): paternal grandfather
  • 母方(ははかた)の祖父(そふ): maternal grandfather

RELATED FAMILY TERMS:

  • 祖母(そぼ): grandmother (formal)
  • 祖父母(そふぼ): grandparents
  • 曽祖父(そうそふ): great-grandfather

USAGE NOTE:
Use 祖父(そふ) when speaking about your grandfather to others in formal situations. Use おじいちゃん when speaking directly to him or in casual contexts.

Related Words

Related: 祖母(そぼ) (grandmother)
Related: 祖父母(そふぼ) (grandparents)
Keigo: おじいさん (polite)
basic
Added 2026.1.8 21:12 · Revised 2026.4.2 13:29
01000/01452_sofu