祖父

そふ

grandfather

JLPT N4

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"祖父" specifically refers to the paternal grandfather, that is, your father's father. It is a formal and respectful term used in both spoken and written Chinese.

Common Contexts

You will often hear "祖父" in family introductions, stories about ancestors, or when discussing family heritage. It is more formal than colloquial terms like "爷爷" (yéye), which is commonly used in northern China.

Collocations and Patterns

Usage Tips

When speaking casually, many native speakers prefer "爷爷" instead of "祖父". However, "祖父" is appropriate in formal writing or when emphasizing lineage. Avoid confusing "祖父" with "祖父" (maternal grandfather), which refers to your mother's father.

Example Sentences

My grandfather is eighty years old this year and is still very healthy.

Grandfather often tells me stories from his youth.

Our family respects grandfather very much because he is the elder in the