Difference in word use: 父親 母親 両親 父母


I would like to ask about the following words: 父親【ちちおや】 and 母親【ははおや】. They
refer to father and mother, right? But why do they exist? When do we use them
instead of お父【とう】さん and お母【かあ】さん?

I have a similar misunderstanding regarding the following two words: 両親【りょうしん】
and 父母【ふぼ】

Basically they both mean parents or 'father and mother', but what is the
difference?

Thank you for your help in advance! Have a nice day!




'why do they exist' is kind of a strange question; why does any synonym exist?
If you're asking for a 'difference' between the two expressions, then 父母 is a
biological term implicating a biological mother and father, and 両親 is a social
term-- an adopted child's parents are 両親, not 父母. Naturally, a non-adopted
child's parents are 両親 as well.

As for 母親/父親, these words ring a bit more 'proper' than お父さん/お母さん. In this
case, it's a bit more about nuance-- the latter is a bit warmer/intimate than
the former. You might directly call your father お父さん, but when talking to your
boss about him, it would likely be preferable to call him 父親.

