結婚してください
kekkon shite kudasai
The Japanese phrase for "I want to marry you" is 結婚してください (kekkon shite kudasai).
This phrase is used to propose marriage to someone. In Japanese, the subject "I" and the object "you" are typically omitted in this proposal, as they are understood from context.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, 結婚してください translates to 'Please do marriage' rather than 'I want to marry you'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Dropping the 'kudasai' makes the proposal more casual and intimate, resulting in 結婚して.
How do you pronounce it?
kekkon shite kudasai
Did you know?
- The word 結婚 contains the character 婚, which originally referred to the custom of selecting a spouse through a mediator rather than a romantic choice.
- In Japanese drama and anime, a character might say 一生大切にします, meaning 'I will treasure you for the rest of my life', as a poetic substitute for a direct marriage proposal.
- In traditional Japanese culture, a formal proposal might involve a 結納 ceremony, where the groom's family exchanges symbolic gifts with the bride's family to seal the engagement.
Examples in context
- 結婚してください。Kekkon shite kudasai.Please marry me.
- ずっと一緒にいたいから、結婚してください。Zutto issho ni itai kara, kekkon shite kudasai.I want to be with you forever, so please marry me.
Example conversation
Hiroto proposes to Misaki at a restaurant.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さん、結婚してください。Misaki-san, kekkon shite kudasai.Misaki, please marry me.
- 美咲 Misakiえっ、本当ですか？E, hontō desu ka?What, really?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい。ずっと前から考えていました。Hai. Zutto mae kara kangaete imashita.Yes. I've been thinking about this for a long time.
- 美咲 Misakiはい、喜んで！Hai, yorokonde!Yes, I'd love to!
