両親
ryōshin[ɾʲo̞ːɕĩɴ]
The Japanese phrase for "parents" is 両親 (ryōshin).
両親 is used to refer to the father and mother of a person.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji for "both" (両) and "parent" (親), literally meaning "both parents".
Which one should you use?
両親 is used when talking about your own parents or in a neutral context, whereas ご両親 is used specifically when speaking about someone else's parents to show respect.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
両親 is a formal way to describe parents. To make the term even more polite and respectful when referring to someone else's parents, you should use the honorific form ご両親.
How do you pronounce it?
ryōshin
Did you know?
- While 両親 is a standard term, many Japanese people use the phrase 親の顔が見たい (oya no kao ga mitai), which literally means 'I want to see my parents' face', to mean 'I want to see the person's true character'.
- The kanji 親 in 両親 is also used in the word 親切 (shinsetsu), meaning 'kind'. This suggests a cultural link between the role of a parent and the concept of kindness.
- In traditional Japanese households, the concept of parents often extended to 'parents-in-law', who are referred to using the term 義理の両親 (giri no ryōshin), meaning 'parents by obligation'.
Examples in context
- 両親に電話して。Call your parents.This sentence demonstrates how to use 両親 when giving a command to call someone's parents.Tatoeba #10917251 by SomeHungryBois, translation #9245472 by CK
- 彼は両親を見つけた。He found his parents.This sentence shows how to use 両親 in the context of finding them.Tatoeba #98965 by bunbuku, translation #389523 by blay_paul
- トムのご両親ですね？You're Tom's parents, aren't you?This sentence illustrates the use of the polite form ご両親 when addressing someone else's parents.Tatoeba #11839787 by bunbuku, translation #2402274 by CK
- 彼女の両親はとても優しいです。Her parents are very kind.
- 348 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their upcoming weekend plans.
- 陽葵 Himari今週末はどこに行くの？Konshūmatsu wa doko ni iku no?Where are you going this weekend?
- 大翔 Hiroto両親に会いに実家に帰るよ。Ryōshin ni ai ni jikka ni kaeru yo.I'm going back to my hometown to see my parents.
- 陽葵 Himariそれはいいですね。Sore wa ii desu ne.That sounds nice.
- 大翔 Hiroto久しぶりに両親とゆっくりしたいんだ。Hisashiburi ni ryōshin to yukkuri shitai nda.I want to relax with my parents for the first time in a while.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 両親, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
