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Kotomora

親

parent, intimacy, relative, familiarity, dealer (cards)

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 500Strokes16

Readings

On'yomi

  • シン

Kun'yomi

  • おや
  • おや-
  • した.しい
  • した.しむ

Nanori

  • ぎ
  • ちか
  • のり

Meaning

親 centers on close personal connection: a parent, a relative, or the intimacy and familiarity that come from being near someone. The card-dealer sense is a specialized application where the dealer is the 'parent' of the game.

Most common words using 親

24 of 350
  • 親おや
    N4

    parent; parents; mother and father

  • 母親ははおや
    N3

    mother

  • 父親ちちおや
    N3

    father

  • 両親りょうしん
    N5

    parents; both parents

  • 親友しんゆう
    N4

    close friend; bosom friend; buddy; crony; chum

  • 親子おやこ
    N3

    parent and child

  • 親父おやじ
    N1

    one's father; one's old man; dad; pops

  • 親しいしたしい
    N3

    close (e.g. friend); familiar; friendly; intimate

  • 親戚しんせき
    N4

    relative; relation; kin

  • 親切しんせつ
    N5

    kind; gentle; considerate; generous; friendly; nice

  • 親族しんぞく
    N1

    relative; relation; kin

  • 親指おやゆび
    N2

    thumb

  • 近親きんしん

    near relative

  • 親方おやかた

    master; boss; chief; foreman; supervisor

  • 里親さとおや

    foster parent; foster parents

  • 親密しんみつ
    N1

    intimacy; friendship

  • 親しみしたしみ
    N2

    intimacy; affection; familiarity

  • 親分おやぶん

    boss; leader; kingpin; chief; head (e.g. of a crime syndicate)

  • 親愛しんあい
    N1

    deep affection

  • 親会社おやがいしゃ

    parent company

  • 親日しんにち
    N1

    pro-Japanese

  • 親善しんぜん
    N1

    friendship; goodwill; friendly relations; amity

  • 親類しんるい
    N3

    relative; relation; kin

  • 親睦しんぼく
    N1

    friendship; amity

Explore all words using 親 →

Study

Etymology

親 combines 亲 (a phonetic element carrying the sound シン) with 見 (to see), suggesting the idea of seeing someone closely or frequently, which leads to intimacy and parental closeness.

Meaning mnemonic

A parent stands close (亲) and watches over you (見). This close watching creates the intimacy and familiarity of family.

Reading mnemonic

For シン, imagine a parent showing intimacy by gently touching your shin: shin -> シン, and the close contact reflects the kanji's meaning.