distant, disinterested parent
Refers to a parent who is emotionally detached, uninvolved, or neglectful, acting like a parent in name only. Often used critically.
He's always working, so to his kids he's like a parent in name only.
Children raised by distant, disinterested parents often crave affection.
Rare kanji spelling; the word is typically written in kana. The kanji 似非 (ese) means 'pseudo-' or 'sham', and 親 (oya) means 'parent'.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling sometimes seen.
Katakana spelling for the prefix, emphasizing the 'pseudo' nuance.
Compound of 似非 (ese, 'pseudo-', 'sham') and 親 (oya, 'parent'). The prefix 似非 is used to indicate something that is not genuine or only superficially resembles the real thing.