片 親(かたおや)

かたおや

noun

single parent; one parent

1. single parent; one parent; one of the two parents

A household with only one parent present, due to divorce, death, or other circumstances. Also used neutrally to mean "one of the two parents" when the other is being contrasted.

片親(かたおや)家庭(かてい)で育(そだ)った。

I was raised in a single-parent household.

片親(かたおや)が外国人(がいこくじん)の子供(こども)が増(ふ)えている。

The number of children with one foreign parent is increasing.

片親(かたおや)を亡(な)くした子供(こども)を支援(しえん)する団体(だんたい)でボランティアをしている。

I volunteer at an organization that supports children who have lost one parent.

Composed of 片(かた) (one of a pair) + 親(おや) (parent). Compare 片足(かたあし) (one foot) for the same 片(かた) pattern.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

片親(かたおや)家庭(かてい): single-parent household
片親(かたおや)で育(そだ)つ: to grow up with one parent
片親(かたおや)を亡(な)くす: to lose one parent

USAGE NOTE:
In sensitive contexts (welfare, news reports), ひとり}{親(おや) is now preferred over 片親(かたおや), which can sound dated or carry slight stigma. 片親(かたおや) is still widely used in casual speech and when contrasting one parent with the other.

SIMILAR WORDS:

ひとり親(おや): single parent — modern, neutral term used in policy and media
両親(りょうしん): both parents — the contrasting form

general

Added 2026.5.13 12:11

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