The Meaning of oyaji [親父] In Japanese

親父
おやじ
Romaji: oyaji N5

What does 親父 mean?

Translation and Meaning

father, dad, old man

Definition

What does 親父 mean? It denotes one’s father in casual, informal speech. It refers to a close male parent, often used affectionately or familiarly, and can carry rough or rustic connotations depending on tone.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Casual, everyday term for one’s own father, with affectionate or rough nuance
  • Used to refer to an older man in informal settings, not suitable for formal speech
  • Common in media and humor to portray a relatable, masculine elder figure

Etymology

Etymology The word is a compound of 親 meaning parent and 父 meaning father, formed to denote a close familial male figure; the typical reading oyaji arises from kun readings of the kanji and its colloquial development.

Composition

  • 親 = parent, close relationship; signals kinship
  • 父 = father; the core semantic element

Usage

Used in casual conversation among family and friends, particularly by men; not appropriate in formal writing or polite speech. It can express warmth, teasing, or rough familiarity when addressing or referring to one’s father or an older man, and is common in manga, films, and everyday talk.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: think of oyaji as oy (own/your) + aji (guy) to recall it is a casual label for one’s own father or an older man; pair with 親 to visualize a close parent figure.

Variations

  • old man or dad — oyaji
  • father (neutral/formal) — chichioya
  • father figure in polite contexts via related terms — otousan

Example Phrases

  • 親父 が 帰ってきて 晩ごはん を 作ってくれた。
    Oyaji ga kaettekite bangohan o tsukutte kureta.
    Dad came back and cooked dinner for me.
    Lista:
    • 親父 (oyaji) – dad
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 帰ってきて (kaettekite) – coming back
    • 晩ごはん (bangohan) – dinner
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 作ってくれた (tsukutte kureta) – cooked for me
    「親父」 é uma expressão informal para pai; a frase usa a forma て para ligar ações, e くれた indica que a ação foi feita para o falante.
親父