父母
fùmǔ
The English phrase 'parents' is translated into Chinese as 父母 (fùmǔ).
The term is used to refer to the father and mother of a person.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 父母 is a compound made of two parts: 父 meaning father and 母 meaning mother.
Which one should you use?
While 父母 is the standard term, the colloquial form 爸妈 is much more common in spoken conversation. 父母 is often used in written contexts or when speaking about parents in a more detached or respectful way, whereas 爸妈 is used when speaking about one's own parents or in casual settings.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
父母 is a formal way to say parents in Chinese. For a more informal approach, you can use 爸爸妈妈 (mom and dad) or the even more colloquial 爸妈 (mom and dad).
How does it change in a sentence?
As a collective noun, 父母 does not require a plural marker to indicate more than one parent.
How do you pronounce it?
fùmǔ
Did you know?
- The character for mother, 母, is an ancient pictograph representing a woman with large breasts, symbolizing the act of nursing.
- In traditional Chinese culture, the order of 父 before 母 reflects a historical patriarchal social structure where the father's role was prioritized.
- In many Chinese-speaking cultures, the concept of 'parents' extends deeply into the concept of 'filial piety', a virtue often called 孝 (xiào), which dictates how one should treat their parents throughout their life.
Examples in context
- 我父母离婚了。My parents are divorced.This sentence is useful for describing a change in parental relationship using 父母.Tatoeba #2109174 by sadhen, translation #456461 by lukaszpp
- 我父母想见你。My parents want to meet you.This sentence is useful for expressing a parental desire to meet someone using 父母.Tatoeba #9958158 by GlossaMatik, translation #8245997 by Hybrid
- 你父母多大了？How old are your parents?This sentence is useful for asking about the age of someone's parents using 父母.Tatoeba #9978544 by GlossaMatik, translation #3446745 by pauldhunt
- 我十分尊敬我的父母。I have great respect for my parents.
- 爸爸妈妈，你们辛苦了！Mom and dad, you've worked hard!
- 我们邀请所有家长参加家长会。We invite all parents to attend the parent-teacher meeting.
- 阿爸阿妈，你们来吃饭啦！Mom, dad, dinner is ready!
- 172 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their family plans for the holiday.
- 雨婷 Yuting你打算回老家看父母吗？Nǐ dǎsuàn huí lǎojiā kàn fùmǔ ma?Do you plan to go back to your hometown to see your parents?
- 伟 Wei是的，我的父母都想我了。Shì de, wǒ de fùmǔ dōu xiǎng wǒ le.Yes, my parents both miss me.
- 雨婷 Yuting那太好了，替我向他们问好。Nà tài hǎo le, tì wǒ xiàng tāmen wènhǎo.That's great, give them my regards.
- 伟 Wei没问题，我会转告我的父母。Méi wèntí, wǒ huì zhuǎngào wǒ de fùmǔ.No problem, I will tell my parents.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 父母, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
