“Grandfather” in Japanese is 祖父 (そふ), pronounced sofu.
Pronunciation
The word has 2 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
祖父 is your own grandfather; おじいさん (ojīsan) is someone else’s or an elderly man. おじさん with a short i means uncle.
Example sentences
- 祖父は毎朝散歩します。そふはまいあささんぽします。My grandfather takes a walk every morning.
- おじいさんに道を聞きました。おじいさんにみちをききました。I asked an old man for directions.
Related forms
| Meaning | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| polite / general | おじいさん | ojīsan |
Quick practice
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FAQ
How do you say grandfather in Japanese?
Grandfather in Japanese is 祖父 (そふ), pronounced “sofu”.
How do you write grandfather in Japanese?
It's written 祖父 with kanji, or そふ in hiragana. Both are read sofu.
Is 祖父 on the JLPT?
Yes. 祖父 (sofu) is a common word at JLPT N4 level, so it's worth learning early.