‘双亲’ literally means ‘two parents’ — ‘双’ (shuāng) means ‘pair’ or ‘both’, and ‘亲’ (qīn) means ‘parent’ or ‘close relative’. Together, the term formally refers to one’s mother and father collectively, emphasizing their dual role in a family. It is more literary and respectful than everyday terms like ‘爸爸妈妈’ (bàba māma), and appears frequently in written Chinese — such as official documents, essays, obituaries, or formal speeches — rather than casual conversation.

Unlike colloquial expressions, ‘双亲’ carries a tone of reverence and tradition; it may also appear in fixed phrases like ‘双亲健在’ (shuāng qīn jiàn zài, ‘both parents are alive’) or ‘双亲过世’ (shuāng qīn guòshì, ‘both parents have passed away’). While grammatically plural, it functions as a singular noun phrase — for example, you say ‘双亲很健康’, not ‘双亲们很健康’. It does not imply biological relation exclusively but strongly connotes the socially recognized parental pair.