義 理(ぎり)の親(おや)

ぎりのおや

noun

parent-in-law, stepparent

family

1. parent-in-law

A spouse's parent — either the father-in-law or mother-in-law.

義理(ぎり)の親(おや)に挨拶(あいさつ)した。

I greeted my in-laws.

義理(ぎり)の親(おや)との関係(かんけい)に悩(なや)んでいる。

I'm struggling with my relationship with my in-laws.

正月(しょうがつ)に義理(ぎり)の親(おや)の家(いえ)に行(い)くのは緊張(きんちょう)する。

Going to my in-laws' house for New Year's makes me nervous.

2. stepparent

A parent who is not biologically related but has a parental role through remarriage.

義理(ぎり)の親(おや)と仲(なか)がいい。

I get along well with my stepparent.

母(はは)が再婚(さいこん)して、義理(ぎり)の親(おや)ができた。

My mother remarried, and I got a stepparent.

義理(ぎり)の親(おや)を本当(ほんとう)の親(おや)のように慕(した)っている。

I look up to my stepparent as if they were my real parent.

Forms

義理(ぎり) (duty, obligation; in-law) + の (possessive) + 親(おや) (parent)

The 義理(ぎり)の～ pattern is used to form many in-law and step-family terms:

義理(ぎり)の父(ちち): father-in-law / stepfather
義理(ぎり)の母(はは): mother-in-law / stepmother
義理(ぎり)の兄弟(きょうだい): siblings-in-law / stepsiblings
義理(ぎり)の息子(むすこ): son-in-law
義理(ぎり)の娘(むすめ): daughter-in-law

Formal equivalents

義父(ぎふ): father-in-law (formal)
義母(ぎぼ): mother-in-law (formal)
義両親(ぎりょうしん): parents-in-law (formal)

Cultural note

Relationships with 義理(ぎり)の親(おや) are a frequent topic in Japanese advice columns and online forums, especially regarding expectations during holidays and family gatherings.

general

Added 2026.2.9 13:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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