おじいさん

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. おじいさんは元気です。▶ —
   My grandfather is doing well.
2. 前のおじいさん、優しい人ですね。▶ —
   That old gentleman in front, what a kind person.

Collocations

Mnemonic

おじいさん ojiisan — your own grandfather (affectionate) or any unknown old man (polite). The humble form for talking about your grandfather to outsiders is 祖父 (sofu) — a Sino-Japanese term. The same referent shifts between ojiichan (intimate), ojiisan (polite), and sofu (formal/external). Korean and English use one word; Japanese maps three registers.

Quick check

1. Talking to a boss about your own grandfather — which word?

   • 祖父 sofu (humble, formal)
   • おじいさん (polite but in-group too informal here)
   • おじいちゃん (casual/affectionate)
   • ジジ jiji (rough, rude)