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配偶者 (はいぐうしゃ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
spouse ; marital partner
A formal, gender-neutral term for a married person's husband or wife. Used in official contexts, legal documents, and polite speech. In casual conversation, 夫 (husband) or 妻 (wife) are more common.
くし
て
から
一人ひとり
暮ぐ
らし
だ
。
He has been living alone since losing his spouse.
Kanji 配 distribute, spouse, exile 偶 accidentally, even number, couple Similar words 夫おっと Casual and common term for 'husband'. 配偶者 is formal and gender-neutral.
妻つま Casual and common term for 'wife'. 配偶者 is formal and gender-neutral.
パートナー Loanword 'partner' can refer to a spouse or a life partner, often in a more modern or informal context. 配偶者 is strictly legal and formal.
Etymology Compound of 配偶 (haigū, 'marriage, pairing') + 者 (sha, 'person'). 配偶 is from Chinese, combining 配 (distribute, match) and 偶 (pair, spouse).
