Proverb / Kotowaza
哀哀父母
Expresses deep sorrow and regret for being unable to repay the immense debt of gratitude to one's parents after their passing.
Deeply sorrowful father and mother
Quick Answer
Expresses deep sorrow and regret for being unable to repay the immense debt of gratitude to one's parents after their passing.
- Literal Image
- Deeply sorrowful father and mother
- How to Use It
- Used to describe a state of deep mourning or to express regret over not having shown enough kindness to one's parents while they were alive.
Meaning
This expression describes the profound grief of a child who reflects on the hardships their parents endured to raise them. It specifically conveys the mourning and regret of failing to fulfill one's filial duties or show sufficient gratitude while the parents were still alive.
Literal Image
Deeply sorrowful father and mother
How to Use It
Used to describe a state of deep mourning or to express regret over not having shown enough kindness to one's parents while they were alive.
Tone
Formal and deeply emotional.
Examples
亡き両親の写真を見つめ、孝行できなかった無念さに「哀哀父母」の情が込み上げる。彼は、両親が生きていた頃にもっと孝行すべきだったと、今になって後悔の念に苛まれている。
Gazing at the photos of my late parents, I am overcome with the feeling of 'aiai fubo' and the regret of not being able to show them enough kindness.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
This is a four-character idiom (yojijukugo) rooted in classical literature, using formal vocabulary and repetition.
哀哀
あいあい / aiai
deeply sorrowful; pitiful
父母
ふぼ / fubo
father and mother; parents
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a heavy expression used in contexts of loss and regret; it is not suitable for casual conversation.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to simply mean parents are sad; it specifically refers to the child's grief and regret regarding their parents' sacrifices.
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Origin
This expression originates from a passage in the 'Xiaoya: Ligu' section of the Shijing (Classic of Poetry), the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry. The passage reads, 'Alas, my parents, who endured such hardships to give me life' (哀哀たる父母、我を生みて劬労せり). The poem describes the immense struggle parents face while raising children and the profound grief of a child who loses them before being able to repay that debt.
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