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.
彼氏と別れた。
I broke up with my boyfriend.
二人は別れることにした。
They decided to break up.
Literally 'to have the breakup talk'. Used when initiating or going through the conversation of breaking up.
昨日、彼女と別れ話をした。
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.
二人の関係は破局を迎えた。
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.
私たちは円満に別れました。
We broke up amicably.
To break up with mutual understanding/agreement.
お互い納得して別れたから、後悔はない。
We broke up with mutual understanding, so I have no regrets.
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.
彼にLINEで別れようって言われた。
He told me he wanted to break up over LINE.
To break up over the phone.
電話で別れるのは失礼かな？
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.