養父(ようふ)

ようふ
noun
adoptive father; foster father
formalfamily
See also: 養母(ようぼ) (adoptive mother)
1. adoptive father; foster father
A man who has legally adopted a child and become their father, or who raises a child in place of their biological father. A formal, legal term.
養父(ようふ)に育(そだ)てられた。
I was raised by my adoptive father.
養父(ようふ)との関係(かんけい)は良好(りょうこう)だった。
My relationship with my adoptive father was good.
養父(ようふ)は実(じつ)の父親(ちちおや)のように私(わたし)を大切(たいせつ)にしてくれた。
My adoptive father treated me as preciously as a biological father would.

養父(ようふ) is a formal, legal term for an adoptive or foster father — a man who raises a child not biologically his own.

Writing

養(よう) (nurture, adopt) + 父(ふ) (father). The character 養(よう) appears in many adoption-related words.

Register

A legal and formal term. In casual conversation, 育(そだ)ての親(おや) (the parent who raised me) or 育(そだ)ての父(ちち) is more natural.

Related family terms

Watch out

Do not confuse with 義父(ぎふ) (father-in-law), which refers to a spouse's father. 養父(ようふ) specifically means an adoptive/foster father.

Related Words

Compare: 義父(ぎふ) (father-in-law)
Antonym: 実父(じっぷ) (biological father)
Related: 養子(ようし) (adopted child)
Related: 養親(ようしん) (adoptive parent)
Related: 養女(ようじょ) (adopted daughter)
general
Added 2026.3.19 13:26 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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