阿爹 (ā diē) — father, dad (regional/dialectal term)

Definition

A regional, often rural or folksy word for 'dad,' heard in direct address or storytelling rather than everyday city talk. Use it for color, not as your default term for father (use 爸爸 for that).

noun
fatherdad (regional/dialectal term)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 阿爹。
    Wǒ ā diē shì nóng mín.
    My dad is a farmer.
  • 阿爹，！
    ā diē, Nǐ huí lái le!
    Dad, you're back!
  • 阿爹。
    Wǒ xiǎo shí hou cháng gēn ā diē qù tián lǐ.
    When I was little, I often went to the fields with Dad.

Origin

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ā
爹diēfather

阿 gives a familiar, affectionate tone to 爹, meaning father.

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
可kě阿ā
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.

Open 阿 →

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
父父fùfather
Sound part声符shēngfú
多
多duō爹diē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

爹 has 父, meaning father, on top, and 多 below to give its sound.

Open 爹 →

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