やさしい日本語で家族をしょうかいします

Why does Japanese have two words for “father”?

Japanese uses two sets of family words: humble ones for your own family and respectful ones for other people’s (or for addressing your own relatives). Use 父 (chichi) to talk about your own father politely to outsiders; use お父さん (otōsan) to address your dad directly or to talk about someone else’s. The clip shows the contrast: 私の父 (“my father”) is then labeled お父さんです.

The pattern repeats across the family: 母 (haha) / お母さん (mother), 妻 (tsuma) / 奥さん (someone’s wife), 夫 (otto) / ご主人 (someone’s husband), 息子 (musuko) / 息子さん (someone’s son). The humble/respectful split is the real rule — the forms aren’t all simply お- / ご- versions (note 奥さん, 息子さん). A common beginner slip is saying お父さん about your own dad to an outsider, where 父 is expected.