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親
oya
parent
私の親はとても優しいです。
My parents are very kind.
neutral
A person who is one's father or mother.
彼女の親は医者です。
Her parents are doctors.
親になるのは大変なことです。
Becoming a parent is a big responsibility.
Can refer to both mother and father collectively or individually. In formal contexts, 両親 (ryōshin) is often used for 'parents.'
literary
Close or intimate; familiar.
彼らは親しい友人です。
They are close friends.
Less common than the primary definition. Often written as 親しい (shitashii).
Pro Tip
Distinguishing 親 and 両親
Use 親 when referring to a single parent (e.g., 彼の親は優しいです 'His parent is kind') or parents collectively in casual speech. Use 両親 (ryōshin) for 'parents' in formal contexts or when specifying both mother and father.
Word Origin
From Old Japanese *oya (parent), from Proto-Japonic *oya (parent). Related to 親しい (shitashii, intimate) and 親類 (shinrui, relatives).
Usage Notes
In modern Japanese, 親 almost always refers to one's father or mother, or parents collectively. The secondary meaning of 'close/familiar' is archaic or literary.
Word Breakdown
親
parent
root和英辞典