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 2026.5.16 2:10

01000/01452_sofu