Translation guide
A ring exchanged during a wedding ceremony, symbolizing marriage. In Japanese, the most common term is 結婚指輪, but other expressions exist for different contexts.
wedding ring
The ring worn after marriage, typically a simple band.
The standard, neutral term for a wedding ring. Used in everyday conversation.
I lost my wedding ring.
He wears a wedding ring on his left ring finger.
Loanword from English, often used in jewelry stores or fashion contexts. Sounds slightly more stylish or Western.
Choose a design for the wedding ring.
Distinguishing between the ring given at proposal and the ring exchanged at marriage.
Engagement ring. Not a wedding ring, but often confused. Use this for the ring given at proposal.
Engagement rings often have a diamond.
In Japanese, these are distinct terms. Do not use 婚約指輪 to mean wedding ring.
Used in wedding ceremonies or formal documents.
Literary or formal term for wedding ring, sometimes used in ceremonial contexts.
We will now exchange the wedding rings.
In English, 'wedding ring' can sometimes loosely include the engagement ring, but in Japanese, 結婚指輪 (wedding ring) and 婚約指輪 (engagement ring) are strictly separate. Use 婚約指輪 for the ring given at proposal.
Wear the engagement ring and wedding ring together.
A wedding ring and an engagement ring are different things.