What’s the difference between 二親 and 両親?


I looked it up in my monolingual dictionary and I got the following:

> 両親【りょうしん】  
>  二親。父母。

Which seems pretty straightforward, but then I got this:

> 二親【ふたおや】  
> 父と母。両親。(<>片親)

As you can see it doesn’t give a real explanation on the difference in usage
between the two.

I know the difference between 親 and 両親 however. The first just refers to (a)
parent(s), while the second refers to both parents.

Is their a difference in nuance like 二親 putting stress on the fact that you
have (to consider) both parents?

**Source:**  
[Dictionary app I
used](https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/%E4%B8%89%E7%9C%81%E5%A0%82%E5%9B%BD%E8%AA%9E%E8%BE%9E%E5%85%B8-%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%83%E7%89%88-%E5%85%AC%E5%BC%8F%E3%82%A2%E3%83%97%E3%83%AA/id821306606?l=en&mt=8
"iOS app")




There is a difference in actual usage.

「両親{りょうしん}」 is the generic word meaning " ** _one's parents_** ". In other
words, it has no particular nuance to it.

「二親{ふたおや}」 is **_not_** a generic word as 「両親」 is. While 「二親」 can be used just
like 「両親」 for the same meaning (though that is not a common usage at all), it
is more often used in the context of a family with a **_single vs both
parents_** to refer to one with both parents. A single parent is often
referred to as 「片親{かたおや}」 and 「二親」 is used like the antonym of that word.

Unless you are approaching a truly native-level fluency, I do not think you
will have a chance to use 「二親」 very actively. You could stick with 「両親」 until
that day finally comes. It is just safer in general not to use nuanced words
unless you are 100% sure you are using them properly.




There is a difference in actual usage.

「両親{りょうしん}」 is the generic word meaning " ** _one's parents_** ". In other
words, it has no particular nuance to it.

「二親{ふたおや}」 is **_not_** a generic word as 「両親」 is. While 「二親」 can be used just
like 「両親」 for the same meaning (though that is not a common usage at all), it
is more often used in the context of a family with a **_single vs both
parents_** to refer to one with both parents. A single parent is often
referred to as 「片親{かたおや}」 and 「二親」 is used like the antonym of that word.

Unless you are approaching a truly native-level fluency, I do not think you
will have a chance to use 「二親」 very actively. You could stick with 「両親」 until
that day finally comes. It is just safer in general not to use nuanced words
unless you are 100% sure you are using them properly.

