義父

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 義父 (ぎふ) can mean a father-in-law created by marriage or a stepfather created by a parent's remarriage.
• Basic usage: The 義父 supporting the speaker after marriage is an in-law; the new 義父 living with a boy after his mother's remarriage is a stepfather.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Father related by one's marriage and father related by a parent's remarriage
  • Identify whose marriage created the relationship. English father-in-law and stepfather are not interchangeable without that context.