Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'get married' depends on formality, perspective, and whether you're describing the act of marrying or the resulting state. The most common and neutral verb is 結婚する (kekkon suru).
He got married last year.
To speak respectfully about someone else's marriage, or in formal situations.
Honorific form of 結婚する. Used when talking about someone of higher status or in very polite contexts.
部長はご結婚なさったそうです。
I heard the department manager got married.
Another honorific form, slightly less formal than ご結婚なさる but still polite.
先生はいつご結婚されましたか。
When did the teacher get married?
To humbly refer to one's own marriage, typically in formal situations or when speaking to superiors.
Humble form of 結婚する. Used when talking about your own marriage in a formal setting.
私どもは来月結婚いたします。
We will get married next month. (humble)
To describe a woman getting married, often emphasizing the change in status or moving into a new household.
Literally means 'to marry into (the groom's family)'. Used for a woman marrying and joining her husband's household. Can sound traditional.
彼女は遠くに嫁いだ。
She got married and moved far away.
A colloquial, somewhat old-fashioned phrase meaning 'to go as a bride'. Used for a woman getting married.
娘がお嫁に行きました。
My daughter got married.
To describe a man getting married, often emphasizing taking a wife.
A somewhat formal or literary expression meaning 'to take a wife'.
彼は三十歳で妻をめとった。
He got married at thirty.
To express the state of being married, rather than the act of getting married.
The te-iru form of 結婚する, indicating the ongoing state of being married.
彼は結婚していますか。
Is he married?
私は結婚していません。
I'm not married.
A noun meaning 'married' (as a status). Often used in forms or official contexts.
既婚者
a married person
In English, you can say 'I married John'. In Japanese, 結婚する is intransitive. To say 'marry someone', use 〜と結婚する (with the particle と).
私はジョンと結婚した。
I married John.
Unlike some languages, 結婚する is used for both men and women. There is no separate verb for a man marrying vs. a woman marrying in neutral speech.