ご両親

§ What does it mean and when do people use it?

When you're talking about someone else's parents in Japanese, the most common and polite term you'll hear is ご両親 (goryoushin). This isn't just a fancy way to say "parents"; it carries a specific nuance of respect that's really important in Japanese communication. Think of it as the respectful counterpart to saying "my parents" using words like 両親 (ryoushin) or even 父 (chichi) and 母 (haha) for your own father and mother.

The "ご" (go) at the beginning of ご両親 is an honorific prefix. This prefix is added to many nouns in Japanese to show respect or politeness, especially when you're referring to things associated with someone else, or when you're speaking to someone you want to show respect to. In this case, it makes the word for "parents" sound more respectful and formal. It's similar to how we might say "your esteemed parents" in English, though not as formal in everyday Japanese.

DEFINITION

ご両親 (goryoushin): Someone else's parents. (Polite)

You'll use ご両親 in a variety of situations where you're discussing someone else's parents. Here are some common scenarios:

• Asking about a friend's parents: If you're talking to a friend and want to ask about their parents' well-being, ご両親 is the appropriate term.
• Referring to a colleague's parents in a business setting: In a professional environment, maintaining politeness is key. If you need to mention a colleague's parents, use ご両親.
• Speaking to someone about their partner's parents: When you're talking to someone about their spouse's or partner's parents, ご両親 is the respectful choice.
• In formal letters or emails: If you're writing a formal communication that involves referring to someone's parents, ご両親 is essential for proper etiquette.

Let's look at some examples to make this clearer:

Here, you're asking about Mr. Tanaka's parents. It's polite and shows respect.

This sentence expresses nervousness about meeting her parents. Again, ご両親 is the polite way to refer to them.

Understanding when to use ご両親 is a clear step towards mastering polite Japanese. It shows that you understand and respect Japanese social hierarchies and relationships. Don't be afraid to use it in your conversations. The more you use it, the more natural it will become.

The distinction between referring to your own family and someone else's family is a fundamental part of Japanese honorific language, known as sonkeigo (尊敬語 - respectful language) and kenjougo (謙譲語 - humble language). While ご両親 isn't strictly sonkeigo or kenjougo, it incorporates the honorific prefix that aligns with the spirit of these polite language forms. It signals that the parents you're referring to belong to someone you are showing consideration for.

So, next time you're chatting in Japanese and need to bring up someone's parents, remember ご両親. It's a simple word that carries a lot of weight in terms of politeness and respect. Using it correctly will definitely impress native speakers and help you navigate social interactions more smoothly.

§ Understanding "Goryoushin"

The Japanese word ご両親 (ごりょうしん, goryoushin) means 'someone else's parents'. It's a polite term, and you should use it when talking about or to someone else's parents, especially if you want to show respect. This is different from how you'd refer to your own parents, which would typically be 両親 (りょうしん, ryoushin) or even more casually, 親 (おや, oya).

§ Basic Usage

You'll often hear ご両親 used in conversations where you're asking about someone's parents or referring to them in a formal or respectful context.

Politeness Level

ご両親 is a highly polite term. It uses the honorific prefix ご (go) and the suffix 衆 (shuu, which becomes shin in this case) to show deference.

§ Using ご両親 with particles

Just like other nouns, ご両親 can be combined with various particles to form different grammatical structures.

• ～は (wa) - Topic Marker: Used to indicate the topic of the sentence.

• ～が (ga) - Subject Marker: Used to indicate the subject of a verb or when the subject is new information.

• ～に (ni) - To/From (Recipient/Source): Used to indicate the recipient of an action or the source.

• ～と (to) - With: Used to indicate who someone is with or what something is combined with.

• ～の (no) - Possessive: Used to show possession or to link nouns.

§ When to use it (and when not to)

ご両親 is a safe bet when you're talking about someone else's parents in most social situations, especially if you're not extremely close to the person. It shows respect and politeness.

§ Common polite phrases with ご両親

Here are some common phrases where ご両親 is used:

• ご両親によろしくお伝えください。 (Goryoushin ni yoroshiku o-tsutae kudasai.) - Please give my regards to your parents.
• ご両親にご挨拶したいです。 (Goryoushin ni go-aisatsu shitai desu.) - I'd like to greet your parents.

§ The Basics of ご両親

Japanese Word

ご両親 (goryoushin)

Meaning

Someone else's parents (polite)

CEFR Level

B1

When you're talking about other people's parents in Japanese, especially in a polite context, you'll use ご両親 (goryoushin). This is a keigo (honorific language) term, so it's essential for showing respect. Think of it as the polite way to say "your parents" or "their parents."

§ Where You'll Hear ご両親

You'll encounter ご両親 in many formal and semi-formal settings. Understanding these contexts will help you use it correctly and sound more natural.

At Work

In a professional environment, showing respect is key. If you're discussing a colleague's family, especially their parents, ご両親 is the correct term to use.

Translation hint: "Are Mr./Ms. Tanaka's parents doing well?"

Translation hint: "I met the department head's parents the other day."

At School

When talking to teachers, school staff, or even other students about someone else's parents, ご両親 is appropriate. This could be in parent-teacher conferences, school events, or just general conversations.

Translation hint: "Mr./Ms. Yamada's parents came to the school."

Translation hint: "I heard the teacher's parents are coming to Tokyo next week."

In the News or Formal Announcements

News reports, formal speeches, or public announcements will often use ご両親 when referring to the parents of individuals, especially when those individuals are prominent figures or the context requires a respectful tone.

Translation hint: "The groom's parents gave a speech."

Translation hint: "That athlete's parents also came to the venue."

Everyday Polite Conversation

Even in less formal but still polite conversations, ご両親 is the go-to word when asking about or referring to someone else's parents.

• When meeting a friend's parents for the first time.
• When asking a new acquaintance about their family.
• When discussing a mutual friend's parents.

Translation hint: "Please give my regards to your parents."

Translation hint: "Where do your parents live?"

§ Don't Use It for Your Own Parents

This is the most frequent mistake. ご両親 (goryoushin) is a polite term specifically for someone else's parents. You should never use it when talking about your own parents. Using ご両親 for your own parents sounds very strange and incorrect to native Japanese speakers. It's like using 'your honor' to refer to your own dad in a casual conversation.

§ Not Just for 'Both Parents'

While ご両親 (goryoushin) literally translates to 'both parents,' it's used even when you might only be referring to one parent in a general sense, or when you're simply being polite about the concept of someone's parents. It doesn't strictly mean you're talking about two people every time.

Translation Hint

Are Mr./Ms. Tanaka's parents doing well?

In this example, you are asking about their parents' well-being in general, not necessarily confirming that both are alive and well. It's a polite way to inquire.

§ Overusing It in Informal Settings

While ご両親 (goryoushin) is polite, it can sound a bit stiff or overly formal in very casual conversations, especially with close friends about their parents. In such cases, you might hear people use simpler terms like 'お父さん (otousan)' and 'お母さん (okaasan)' even when referring to their friend's parents.

• Formal/Polite: Use ご両親 (goryoushin)
• Informal/Casual (with close friends): Might use お父さん (otousan) and お母さん (okaasan) if you know them well.

Translation Hint

How's your friend's dad?

This doesn't mean you're only asking about the dad and not the mom; it's a common casual way to ask about a friend's parents in general.

§ Forgetting the Honorific 'ご'

The 'ご' (go) at the beginning of ご両親 (goryoushin) is an honorific prefix. It makes the word polite. While 両親 (ryoushin) without the 'ご' exists, it's generally used for your own parents or in more neutral contexts. When referring to someone else's parents in a respectful way, always include the 'ご'. Dropping it can make your speech sound less polite than intended.

Translation Hint

Where are your teacher's parents?

Using 'ご' here shows respect to the teacher and their parents. Omitting it would make the question sound less deferential.

§ What is ご両親 (Goryoushin)?

When you're talking about someone else's parents in Japanese, the polite and common term you'll use is ご両親 (ごりょうしん - goryoushin). This word is specifically used when you want to show respect to the person you are talking to, or to the parents themselves. It's a key part of polite Japanese communication, especially in formal settings or when speaking with people older than you.

DEFINITION

Someone else's parents. (Polite)

§ Examples of ご両親 in Use

Let's look at some practical examples to see how ご両親 is used in sentences:

Suzuki-san no goryoushin wa, ogenki desu ka? (How are Suzuki-san's parents doing?)

Raishuu, kare no goryoushin ni o-ai suru yotei desu. (I plan to meet his parents next week.)

Kanojo no goryoushin wa totemo shinsetsu na kata-gata desu. (Her parents are very kind people.)

§ Similar Words and When to Use Them

While ご両親 is your go-to for someone else's parents in a polite context, Japanese has several words for 'parents' depending on who you're talking about and to whom. Here's a breakdown:

• ご両親 (goryoushin): This is the polite term for *someone else's parents*. It's almost always safe to use this when you're referring to the parents of your friends, colleagues, or anyone you want to show respect to.
• ご両親様 (goryoushin-sama): This is an even more formal and honorific version, often used in very polite correspondence or when speaking to someone of extremely high status about their parents. You might hear this in very formal business settings or when addressing esteemed elders. For everyday conversations, ご両親 is sufficient.
• 親御さん (oyagosan): This is another polite term for *someone else's parents*. It's a bit more casual than ご両親 but still respectful. You might use this with friends when talking about their parents in a friendly but still considerate way. It's often used when speaking to children about their parents, or when being slightly less formal than with ご両親.
• お父様 (otousama) and お母様 (okaasama): These are very polite terms for *someone else's father* and *mother*, respectively. They can be used when you want to refer to one parent specifically, with a high degree of respect. Think of them as the individual, highly respectful versions of ご両親.
• 両親 (ryoushin): This is a neutral term for 'parents'. You use this when referring to *your own parents* to others, or when talking about parents in a general, neutral sense. You would *not* use this to refer to someone else's parents in a polite conversation.
• 親 (oya): This is the most casual and direct term for 'parent' or 'parents'. You primarily use this when referring to *your own parents* in casual conversation, or when talking about parents in a very general, informal way. It's usually not used to refer to someone else's parents in a polite context.

The key distinction to remember is politeness. When in doubt and referring to someone else's parents, ご両親 is your safest and most commonly used option. As you become more comfortable, you can start to differentiate between ご両親 and 親御さん based on the level of formality and closeness in the relationship.