おやじ

おやじ
noun
father, old man
informalfamily
1. father, dad, old man
An informal term for one's own father. Also used to refer to a middle-aged or older man.
おやじは今(いま)何(なに)してる？
What's your dad doing now?
おやじに似(に)てきたな。
You're starting to look like your old man.
うちのおやじは頑固(がんこ)だ。
My old man is stubborn.
2. boss, master, owner
The owner or master of a shop or establishment, especially a small business.
店(みせ)のおやじに話(はなし)を聞(き)いた。
I talked to the shop owner.
ラーメン屋(や)のおやじは愛想(あいそう)がいい。
The ramen shop owner is friendly.
寿司屋(すしや)のおやじに勧(すす)められた。
It was recommended by the sushi chef.

An informal, masculine term for one's own father or for a middle-aged/older man. Also used for the owner of a small shop or eatery.

Gender and register

Primarily used by men. Sounds casual and rough — not appropriate in polite or formal situations. Women typically say お父(とう)さん or パパ instead.

Common expressions

Related words

Writing

Can be written as 親父(おやじ), but hiragana is more common in everyday writing.

Related Words

Synonym: 父(ちち) (father (neutral/humble))
Related: おふくろ (mother (informal, masculine))
Related: お父(とう)さん (polite, general term for father)
Related: 父親(ちちおや) (formal, objective term)
general
Added 2026.2.5 23:57 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
10000/10249_oyaji