愛人
aijin[a̠iʑĩɴ]
The Japanese word for lover (specifically a sexual partner) is 愛人 (aijin). Wiktionary also lists 情婦 (jōfu).
Meaning: sexual partner (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 愛人 | aijin | [a̠iʑĩɴ] (narrow) | |
| 情婦 | jōfu | [d͡ʑo̞ːɸɯ̟] (narrow) | feminine |
In modern Japanese, 愛人 almost always implies an extramarital affair or a mistress rather than a committed romantic partner.
Which one should you use?
While 愛人 implies a sexual or illicit relationship, 恋人 is the standard term for a romantic partner in a committed relationship. Additionally, 情婦 is a specific form used for a female lover or mistress.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term 情婦 is a more literary and formal way to refer to a female lover or mistress.
How do you pronounce it?
aijin
What mistakes should you avoid?
For a standard boyfriend or girlfriend, use informal terms like ボーイフレンド/彼氏 for a male partner or ガールフレンド/彼女 for a female partner.
Did you know?
- The word 愛人 shares its roots with the Chinese word for 'lover', but the Japanese usage shifted more heavily toward the 'extramarital' connotation over time.
- In Japanese pop culture and media, 愛人 is often associated with a specific social trope of the 'kept woman' who is financially supported by a married man.
- Using the katakana loanwords ボーイフレンド or ガールフレンド is often safer for young people to avoid the heavy, scandalous weight carried by the native words for 'lover'.
Examples in context
- かつてはあんなに輝いてたのに、老いらくの恋で若い愛人にガッポリ持ってかれるなんて、彼も晩節を汚したもんだな。He used to shine so brightly, but to be taken advantage of by a young lover in his old age, he really has sullied his later years.This sentence uses 愛人 to describe a young lover in the context of a man being taken advantage of in his old age.Tatoeba #8210834 by Tanikaz, translation #12614696 by urro
- 彼は、実は愛人がいるらしい。Kare wa, jitsu wa aijin ga iru rashii.He apparently has a lover.
- 愛人の存在を知って、彼女はショックを受けた。Aijin no sonzai o shitte, kanojo wa shokku o uketa.She was shocked to learn about the existence of his lover.
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are talking about a mutual acquaintance's secret.
- 結衣 Yuiねえ、彼に愛人がいるって本当？Nee, kare ni aijin ga iru tte hontou?Hey, is it true that he has a lover?
- 健太 Kentaああ、かなり前から付き合っているらしいよ。Aa, kanari mae kara tsukiatte iru rashii yo.Yeah, I heard they've been together for quite a while.
- 結衣 Yui奥さんが知ったら大変なことになるね。Okusan ga shittara taihen na koto ni naru ne.It will be terrible if his wife finds out.
- 健太 Kenta本当に、いつかバレると思うよ。Hontou ni, itsuka bareru to omou yo.Truly, I think he'll be caught someday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lover” translations and entries 愛人, 情婦, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 情婦, 愛人, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
