How to Say ‘What is it, Dad?’ in Japanese
なに、パパ?
nani papa
[nah-nee PAH-pah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese kids usually call their father パパ or お父さん (otōsan) rather than using his name, and parents often call themselves パパ or ママ when talking to their kids.
Phrase Breakdown
なに
nani
[nah-nee]
what
Question word used to ask about something. In work context: しごとはなにをしていますか (What do you do for work?).
しごとはなにをしていますか。
What do you do for work?
パパ
papa
[PAH-pah]
daddy; papa
Casual word children use for their father.
パパ、おかえり!
Welcome home, Daddy!
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