Dad in Chinese
The Chinese word for dad is 爸爸 (bà ba). The warm everyday word children use for their father.
bà ba
Dad
What 爸爸 means.
爸爸 is what Chinese children call their father, just like “Dad”. 父亲 is the formal, written word, so 爸爸 feels warmer and more personal.
- 爸
- dad
- 爸
- dad
Simplified and traditional
爸爸
爸爸
爸爸 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese, so every Chinese reader recognises it.
About dad in Chinese
How do you write dad in Chinese?
Dad is 爸爸 in Chinese, pronounced bà ba. Dad 爸 means “dad”, 爸 means “dad”.
How do you pronounce 爸爸?
Say bà (fourth tone, falling), ba (neutral tone, light and short). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 爸爸 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 爸爸 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Is 爸爸 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.