Translation guide
The English word 'relationship' covers a wide range of connections between people, from romantic partnerships to family ties, friendships, and professional associations. Japanese uses different words depending on the nature and closeness of the bond. This guide helps you choose the right expression for each context.
To refer to a romantic partnership, dating, or being a couple.
The most common and natural way to say 'relationship' in a romantic sense. It implies an ongoing romantic involvement.
I've been in a long relationship with him.
A more formal term for romantic relationship, often used in official contexts or when discussing marriage prospects.
Literally 'lover relationship', used to explicitly state a romantic bond, but less common in everyday speech.
The two are in a romantic relationship.
To talk about how people are connected, such as family, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances.
To refer to a romantic or sexual relationship, sometimes with a nuance of an affair or liaison.
Specifically means an extramarital affair or illicit romantic relationship. Strongly negative connotation.
To describe a relationship between ideas, things, or concepts, not people.
付き合い (tsukiai) is specifically for romantic relationships or socializing, while 関係 (kankei) is a broad term for any kind of connection. If you say 彼と関係がある (I have a relationship with him), it can sound like a secret or sexual relationship, so be careful with context.
I'm dating him. / I socialize with him.
Are you in a relationship?
交際を申し込む
to propose a relationship
I'm thinking about a serious relationship.
The most general word for 'relationship', covering any kind of connection. It can be used for personal, professional, or abstract links.
What is your relationship with him?
Family relationships are important.
Specifically refers to human relationships or interpersonal connections, often used in contexts like workplace dynamics or social skills.
I'm struggling with workplace relationships.
Refers to the quality of a relationship, often used to describe how well people get along. Commonly used with adjectives like いい (good) or 悪い (bad).
A formal term for family relationship or kinship, used in official documents like family registers.
Please fill in your relationship (to the head of household).
The affair was exposed.
Refers to cheating or having an affair, often used for less serious or one-time infidelity. Can also mean a fling.
He's having an affair.
Literally 'physical relationship', explicitly referring to a sexual relationship. Blunt and direct.
They have a physical relationship.
Same word as for personal connections, but used for abstract relationships like cause and effect, correlation, or mathematical relations.
the relationship between cause and effect
These two incidents are related.
Means 'relation' or 'connection', often used for links between topics, events, or data. Slightly more formal than 関係.
It has a relationship with that problem.
to investigate the relationship
彼とは関係がある。
I have a connection with him (possibly suspicious).
English speakers often want to use リレーションシップ (rireeshonshippu), but this is not natural Japanese. Stick to the words above depending on the context.
to build good relationships