親
oya[o̞ja̠]
The Japanese word for parent is 親 (oya).
The term 親 is a general, neutral word for a person who acts as a parent in rearing a child. It refers to the biological or functional role of being a parent.
Meaning: person who acts as a parent in rearing a child (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 親 covers the general concept of a parent, it is distinct from specific terms used to name a mother (母) or a father (父).
How do you pronounce it?
oya
Did you know?
- In the context of gambling or games like Mahjong, the player who acts as the dealer is called the 親. This player has a special status and different rules for that round.
- The term 親 is frequently used as a prefix in Japanese to denote 'intimate' or 'close', such as in 親友 (shinyū), meaning 'close friend'.
- The word 親 is etymologically linked to the concept of 'aging' or 'becoming old' through the Old Japanese verb 老ゆ.
Examples in context
- 相変わらず、親バカね。As always, you are a doting parent.This sentence uses 親 to describe a doting parent.Tatoeba #10633687 by small_snow, translation #10724428 by terrywallwork
- 彼の父は戦争で亡くなったので、彼はひとり親家庭で育ちました。His father died in the war, so he grew up in a single-parent family.This sentence uses 親 to describe a single-parent family.Tatoeba #8736959 by small_snow, translation #5782860 by AlanF_US
- 「相変わらず、親バカね」「親バカの何が悪い？」「わぁ、開き直っちゃった」"You're a doting parent as always, huh?" "What's wrong with being a doting parent?" "Yikes, you got defensive."This sentence demonstrates a conversation using the term 親 in the context of being a doting parent.Tatoeba #10633694 by small_snow, translation #11237796 by pip
- 彼は私の父母と一緒に住んでいます。He lives with my parents.
- 両親に感謝の気持ちを示しましょう。Let's show gratitude towards our parents.
- お父さん、今日はお仕事お疲れ様です。Father, thank you for your hard work today.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are discussing a friend's childcare situation.
- 結衣 Yui親の代わりになる人が必要だよね。Oya no kawari ni naru hito ga hitsuyo da yo ne.A person to act as a parent is necessary, right?
- 陽太 Yotaそうだね、頼れる親がいると心強いよ。Sou da ne, tayoreru oya ga iru to kokorozuyoi yo.That's true, it's reassuring to have a reliable parent around.
- 結衣 Yui陽太くんは、親がいなくても一人で育てられると思う？Yota-kun wa, oya ga inakutemo hitori de sodaterareru to omou?Yota, do you think one can raise a child alone even without a parent?
- 陽太 Yotaすごく大変だと思うよ。Sugoku taihen da to omou yo.I think it would be very difficult.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 親, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 親, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
