Translation guide
How to talk about ending a romantic relationship in Japanese, from mutual breakups to being dumped.
To say that a couple broke up or that you broke up with someone.
The most common and neutral verb for 'to break up' or 'to part ways' in a romantic context.
I broke up with my boyfriend.
They decided to break up.
Literally 'to have the breakup talk'. Used when initiating or going through the conversation of breaking up.
I had the breakup talk with my girlfriend yesterday.
A more dramatic or formal word for a breakup, often implying a serious relationship ending. Common in news or serious discussions.
Their relationship came to an end.
To say that someone was dumped or rejected by their partner.
To say that you dumped or rejected someone.
To emphasize that the breakup was mutual or on good terms.
To break up amicably, without fighting. 円満 means harmonious or peaceful.
We broke up amicably.
To break up with mutual understanding/agreement.
To specify that the breakup happened through text or call.
To break up via LINE (popular messaging app in Japan). Can be adapted to other apps.
He told me he wanted to break up over LINE.
To break up over the phone.
Is it rude to break up over the phone?
The English phrase 'broken up' might tempt you to use 壊れる (to break/be broken), but that is for objects. For relationships, use 別れる or 破局する.
別れる is the general 'break up'. 振られる specifically means 'to be dumped'. 破局する is a more serious or formal term for a relationship ending, often used in news or dramatic contexts.
I got dumped again.
We broke up with mutual understanding, so I have no regrets.