交こう際さい相あい手て

こ

う

さ

い

あ

い

て

Meanings

noun

romantic partner; significant other; boyfriend/girlfriend

Refers to a person one is dating or in a romantic relationship with, not a casual acquaintance. Gender-neutral; context determines whether it means boyfriend or girlfriend.

彼かの女じょは交こう際さい相あい手てと一いっ緒しょに旅りょ行こうに行いった。
She went on a trip with her romantic partner.
交こう際さい相あい手てがいるかどうか聞きいてもいいですか。
May I ask if you are seeing someone?

See all 9 example sentences ›

Kanji

交mingle, mixing, association
際occasion, side, edge
相inter-, mutual, together
手hand

Related words

彼かれ氏し
Specifically means 'boyfriend', while 交際相手 is gender-neutral and slightly more formal.
彼かの女じょ
Specifically means 'girlfriend', while 交際相手 is gender-neutral and slightly more formal.
恋こい人びと
More common and casual term for a romantic partner; 交際相手 sounds a bit more formal or descriptive.

Word family

元もと交こう際さい相あい手て
former boyfriend; former girlfriend; ex-partner

Built from

交こう際さい+相あい手て

Etymology

Compound of 交際 (こうさい, 'association, socializing') and 相手 (あいて, 'partner, companion'). The meaning 'romantic partner' developed from the idea of a person one associates with in a dating context.