阿爸 (A bà) — dad, daddy (colloquial/regional term for father)

Definition

阿爸 (ā bà) is a warm, colloquial and often regional word for 'dad', more intimate than the standard 爸爸. 父亲 is the formal/written equivalent.

noun

daddaddy (colloquial/regional term for father)

Measure word · 个

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

阿āfamiliar

阿 (familiar) + 爸 (father) gives a familiar term for dad.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

阜阜fù

Sound part声符shēngfú

可

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The part 阜 points to a mound, and 可 gives the pronunciation; 阿 originally meant a big mound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

父巴爸

Meaning part形符xíngfú

父父fùfather

Sound part声符shēngfú

巴

Same sound today

爸 has 父, meaning father, on top and 巴 below, which gives the sound bā.