'Yuè fù' literally combines 岳 (yuè), an ancient term for 'mountain' that historically referred to the wife's family’s ancestral mountain or region, and 父 (fù), meaning 'father'. Together, it specifically denotes one's wife's father — the male parent of one's spouse. Unlike the more general term 丈人 (zhàng rén), which can sometimes be used informally or even jokingly, 岳父 is respectful, standard, and commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese when referring to this familial relationship.

This term reflects traditional Chinese kinship terminology, where relationships through marriage are marked with distinct, non-ambiguous vocabulary. It is used in formal introductions, family discussions, official documents (e.g., visa applications listing relatives), and everyday conversation when speaking about or addressing one’s wife’s father. The word carries neutral-to-formal register and is appropriate across generations and social contexts.