亲
qīn , qìng · HSK 3
parent
👨👩👧 立 (stand) + 木 (tree) — kin who stand by the family tree
亲 means parent, relative, or one's own. The simplified form drops 見 (see) from the traditional 親, but the mnemonic still works: family members are the ones who stand close by your tree. Sounds like 'chin' — kin who lift their chin for you.
亲 — 立 (stand) + 木 (tree); simplified from 親
The traditional form 親 combined 亲 (phonetic, depicting a hazelnut tree) with 見 (see), suggesting closeness through frequent seeing of family. In simplified Chinese, 見 was dropped, leaving 亲. It now means 'parent,' 'intimate,' or 'in person,' and as qìng denotes in-laws.