Translation guide
A brightly colored East Asian duck, often seen as a symbol of love and fidelity in Japanese culture.
Referring to the animal species Aix galericulata.
The standard Japanese name for the mandarin duck. Often written in katakana, but can also be written as 鴛鴦.
公園の池にオシドリがいる。
There are mandarin ducks in the park pond.
Kanji form of オシドリ. More literary or formal, often used in written contexts or poetry.
Using 'mandarin duck' metaphorically to refer to a happily married or devoted couple.
Literally 'mandarin duck couple', this is the most common way to describe a loving, inseparable married couple.
あの二人は本当におしどり夫婦だね。
Those two are really a loving couple, aren't they?
While おしどり夫婦 specifically evokes the image of mandarin ducks and implies a deep, inseparable bond, 仲良し夫婦 (なかよしふうふ) simply means 'a couple that gets along well' and is more casual. Use おしどり夫婦 for a more poetic or emphatic description.
鴛鴦のつがいが仲良く泳いでいる。
A pair of mandarin ducks are swimming affectionately.
A literary phrase meaning 'the vow of mandarin ducks', symbolizing a deep marital bond. Rare in everyday speech.
二人は鴛鴦の契りを結んだ。
They pledged their eternal love (like mandarin ducks).