……
Note
祖父 is a formal alternative for grandfather. You might encounter this word in written contexts or official documents. In most contexts it's advised to use お祖父さん instead, as it sounds more friendly and respectful.
Breakdown of sofu
father
父
ancestor
祖
You now exist because your ancestors displayed the wisdom to have another one.
Usages of sofu
祖父 は 七十歳 で 亡くなった。sofu wa nanajussai de nakunatta.
My grandfather passed away at the age of seventy.
彼 の 祖父 は 東京 に 住んで いました。kare no sofu wa toukyou ni sunde imashita.
His grandfather lived in Tokyo.
祖父 は 病気 に 弱い。sofu wa byouki ni yowai.
(My) grandfather is prone to illness.
Test yourself: What does sofu mean?
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“How do verb conjugations work in Japanese?”
Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness, and mood. For example, the polite present form adds ‑ます to the verb stem, while the past tense uses ‑ました. Unlike English, Japanese verbs don't change based on the subject — the same form works for "I", "you", and "they".
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