Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 伴侶 | hanryo | [hã̠n̺ɾʲo̞] (narrow) |
| 恋人 | koibito | [ko̞ibʲito̞] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the word used for partner depends heavily on whether you are referring to a romantic relationship, a life companion or a professional collaborator. While 伴侶 refers to a life partner or spouse, and 恋人 refers specifically to a romantic partner, other terms like the loanword パートナー are commonly used in formal or business settings to describe both personal and professional partners. If you are referring to someone who aids or collaborates with you in a formal setting, you might use 協力者. For casual or close relationships, you can use 仲間 to mean comrades or companions or 相棒 to describe a trusted partner in a friendly, informal way.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 伴侶 is composed of characters meaning 'accompany' and 'companion'. The word 恋人 is composed of the character for 'love/romance' and the character for 'person'.
Which one should you use?
伴侶 is used for a long-term life partner or spouse and carries a serious, formal tone. In contrast, 恋人 specifically refers to a romantic lover or person of love.
How do you pronounce it?
hanryo
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese society, the concept of a 'life partner' 伴侶 was historically tied to the Buddhist idea of shared karmic destiny across lifetimes.
- The loanword パートナー (paatonaa) is often used in Japanese social contexts to describe same-sex partners specifically, helping to navigate a language that historically lacked neutral terms for non-marital domestic partners.
- While 恋人 means 'lover' or 'partner', the word 恋 describes a longing or yearning that is often unrequited or characterized by pain.
Examples in context
- 私の伴侶です。This is my partner.This sentence is useful for introducing your 伴侶.Tatoeba #10661917 by small_snow, translation #10713623 by terrywallwork
- 恋愛の悩みは恋人に相談するのが一番だよ。It's best to discuss relationship issues directly with your partner.This sentence is useful for discussing relationship issues with a 恋人.Tatoeba #2673243 by tommy_san, translation #2673518 by WestofEden
- 「なんで別れちゃったの？」「私はトムのことがほんとに大好きだったんだけど、トムにとって私は恋人っていうよりやっぱり友達って感じだったんだって」"Why did you end up splitting up?" "Because even though I really loved Tom, he considered me more as a friend than a romantic partner."This sentence is useful for describing a relationship where one person felt more like a friend than a 恋人.Tatoeba #3317472 by tommy__san, translation #10074379 by tsp_2
- 私のビジネスパートナーMy business partner
- 私の協力者であり友人My partner and friend
- 最高の仲間Best partner/companion
- 一緒に冒険する相棒Adventure partner to go with
- 旅行の連れTravel partner/companion
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are talking about their future goals.
- 結衣 Yui将来は、信頼できる伴侶と一緒に暮らしたいです。Shourai wa, shinrai dekiru hanryo to issho ni kurashitai desu.In the future, I want to live with a trustworthy partner.
- 大翔 Hirotoそれは素敵ですね。どのような人が理想ですか？Sore wa suteki desu ne. Dono you na hito ga risou desu ka?That's lovely. What kind of person is your ideal?
- 結衣 Yuiお互いを尊重し合える伴侶が良いと思っています。Otagai o sonchou shiaeru hanryo ga yoi to omotte imasu.I think a partner who can respect each other would be good.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいですね。きっと素敵な方に出会えますよ。Ii desu ne. Kitto suteki na kata ni deaemasu yo.That's great. I'm sure you will meet someone wonderful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “partner” translations and entries 伴侶, 恋人, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
