Page 53 - Japanese Character Writing for Dummies

There are different ways to say “mother,” which can make
mother mother with someone who is not that close to you, say your
your life a little complicated. When you talk about your own

BO/haha boss at work, you refer to her as haha. When you talk
to someone about their mother, you say okāsan.
When you call your own mother at home, you may say お母さ

ん okāsan as well. Your grandmother is sobo.

Radical: 母 Number of strokes: five

father お父さんotōsan is a respectful term for “father.” Just like
“mother,” when you are talking about someone else’s

FU/chichi father, you may say otōsan, but when you refer
to your own father, you should say chichi. Within your
household, you might call your own father otōsan and your

grandfather sofu.

Radical: 父 Number of strokes: four

CHAPTER 3 105 Characters 47