‘继父’ (jìfù) literally combines ‘继’ (jì), meaning ‘to succeed’, ‘to continue’, or ‘step-’ in familial contexts, and ‘父’ (fù), meaning ‘father’. It specifically refers to a man who marries one’s mother after her divorce or the death of one’s biological father, and thereby assumes a paternal role in the child’s life. Unlike ‘养父’ (yǎngfù, adoptive father), a 继父 does not necessarily have legal parental rights unless formal adoption occurs.

This term is neutral and commonly used in everyday speech, official documents, and media when describing family relationships. It emphasizes the marital connection to the child’s mother rather than biological or legal parentage. Children may refer to their 继父 as ‘爸爸’ (bàba) informally, especially if the relationship is close, but the formal term 继父 clarifies the nature of the kinship. It is often paired with terms like ‘继母’ (jìmǔ, stepmother) and appears in discussions about blended families, custody, and inheritance.