離婚する

§ What does it mean and when do people use it?

The Japanese verb 離婚する (りこん する - rikon suru) means 'to divorce'. It's a very straightforward term and you'll hear it used in pretty much any context where divorce is being discussed. Whether it's a news report, a personal conversation, or a legal document, 離婚する is the standard verb.

DEFINITION

To divorce.

Let's break down the components of 離婚する:

• 離婚 (りこん - rikon): This is the noun meaning 'divorce'.
• する (suru): This is a very common Japanese verb meaning 'to do'. When you combine a noun with する, it often creates a verb meaning 'to do that noun'. For example, 勉強する (benkyou suru) means 'to study' (literally 'to do study').

So, 離婚する literally translates to 'to do divorce' or 'to divorce'. It's a very common pattern in Japanese, so once you understand this, you can quickly grasp many other verbs.

Kare-ra wa kyonen rikon shimashita.
They divorced last year. (Hint: They + last year + divorced + past tense polite)

Naze kare-ra wa rikon suru koto ni natta no desu ka?
Why did they end up divorcing? (Hint: Why + they + divorce + came to be + question)

You can also use 離婚 (rikon) as a noun directly, for example, 離婚届 (rikon-todoke) which means 'divorce registration' or 'divorce papers'. However, when you want to express the action of divorcing, 離婚する is what you'll use.

It's important to note that while the concept of divorce exists in all cultures, the social nuances and legal processes can differ. However, the word 離婚する itself is very neutral and simply describes the action.

In casual conversation, you might hear people say 離婚しちゃった (rikon shichatta) which adds a nuance of 'ended up divorcing' or 'unfortunately divorced', often implying a sense of regret or something unexpected. This uses the -ちゃう form, which conveys completion or something unexpected happening.

Kanojo wa kare to rikon suru tsumori desu.
She intends to divorce him. (Hint: She + he + with + divorce + intend + polite)

When learning new verbs like 離婚する, always try to use them in full sentences to understand their natural usage. Think about who divorces whom, when, and why. This will help you internalize the vocabulary more effectively.

§ Understanding 離婚する

Alright, let's get straight to it. You want to know how to use 離婚する (rikon suru), which means 'to divorce' in Japanese. It's a pretty straightforward verb, but there are a few things you should know to use it correctly. This isn't a complex word, but understanding its usage will make your Japanese sound much more natural.

First off, 離婚する is a する (suru) verb. If you've been studying Japanese for a bit, you'll know that する verbs are super common. They're basically a noun followed by する, which turns the noun into a verb. In this case, 離婚 (rikon) is the noun for 'divorce', and adding する makes it 'to divorce'. Easy, right?

§ Basic Sentence Structure

The most common way to use 離婚する is when a person divorces another person. The general structure is:

• [Person A] は [Person B] と 離婚する。

Let's break that down:

Subject (は)

The person who is doing the divorcing. This is marked by the topic particle は (wa).

Partner (と)

The person with whom the divorce is happening. This is marked by the particle と (to), which means 'with'.

Let's see some examples.

They divorced. (Notice how 'they' implies both parties, so you don't always need to explicitly state both individuals if it's clear from context).

She wants to divorce her husband.

My parents divorced a few years ago.

§ Omitting the Partner (Context is King)

Sometimes, you don't need to explicitly state who the person is divorcing, especially if it's clear from the context. This is very common in Japanese. If you're talking about someone's divorce, you can often just say they divorced.

She divorced last year. (It's implied she divorced her spouse.)

§ Discussing the Act of Divorce

You can also use 離婚する to talk about the concept or act of divorce itself, often with some modifying words.

It's not an easy thing, but I decided to divorce.

§ Related Vocabulary

While we're at it, let's quickly touch on some related terms you might encounter:

離婚届 (rikon todoke)

Divorce registration form.

離婚率 (rikon ritsu)

Divorce rate.

慰謝料 (isharyou)

Alimony / Solatium (consolation money).

There you have it. 離婚する is a basic, functional verb for 'to divorce'. Use it with the particle と to indicate the person being divorced, or alone when the context is clear. Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it quickly.

Let's talk about the Japanese verb 離婚する (rikon suru), which means 'to divorce.' It's a pretty straightforward word, but knowing how and where it's used in everyday conversation will make a big difference in your understanding.

Japanese Word

離婚する (rikon suru)

Meaning

to divorce

CEFR Level

A2

§ Basic Use

離婚する is a suru-verb, which means it acts like a noun followed by する (suru) to make it a verb. So, 離婚 (rikon) itself means 'divorce' as a noun. When you add する, it becomes 'to divorce.'

Hint: They divorced last month.

Hint: She wants to divorce her husband.

§ Where you'll hear 離婚する

You'll encounter 離婚する in various contexts, especially when people are discussing personal lives or news. Here are some common situations:

• Everyday Conversations: People talk about divorce as a life event. It might come up when discussing a friend's situation, a celebrity's news, or even general societal trends.

  友人が離婚すると聞いて驚きました。

  Hint: I was surprised to hear my friend is divorcing.

• News Reports: Sadly, celebrity divorces are common news. You'll often see this word in headlines or articles discussing such events.

  有名俳優が離婚すると報じられました。

  Hint: It was reported that a famous actor is divorcing.

• TV Dramas and Movies: Japanese dramas often feature storylines about relationships, including marital issues and divorce. This is a very common word in these settings.

  ドラマで主人公が離婚するシーンがありました。

  Hint: There was a scene in the drama where the main character divorces.

• Legal or Formal Contexts: While less common for A2 learners, if you were to read simplified legal texts or discussions about family law, you would see 離婚する used formally.

  夫婦が離婚する際の手続き。

  Hint: Procedures when a couple divorces.

§ Related Vocabulary

Here are a few words that often go hand-in-hand with 離婚する:

• 結婚する (kekkon suru): to marry. This is the opposite! You marry before you can divorce.

  彼らは結婚して十年後に離婚した。

  Hint: They married and divorced ten years later.

• 夫婦 (fūfu): married couple. When a 夫婦 divorces, they are no longer 夫婦.

  その夫婦は先週離婚したばかりです。

  Hint: That couple just divorced last week.

• 原因 (gen'in): cause, reason. People often discuss the 原因 behind a divorce.

  彼らの離婚の原因は何ですか。

  Hint: What was the cause of their divorce?

§ Mistakes people make with 離婚する

Let's talk about some common pitfalls when using 離婚する (rikon suru), which means "to divorce." Even though it seems straightforward, there are a few things that often trip up learners. Getting these right will make your Japanese sound much more natural.

§ Mistake 1: Forgetting the particle と (to) when stating who divorced whom

When you're saying someone divorced *someone else*, you need to use the particle と (to) to indicate who the other party in the divorce was. This is similar to how you'd say "to marry *with* someone" or "to meet *with* someone." If you just say Xが離婚する, it implies X is divorcing, but doesn't specify from whom. Adding と with the other person makes it clear.

Bad Example

彼は妻を離婚した。(Kare wa tsuma o rikon shita.)

This literally sounds like "He divorced his wife (as an object)," which is grammatically incorrect and makes no sense in this context. You don't perform the action of divorcing *on* your wife; you divorce *with* your wife.

Good Example

彼は妻と離婚した。(Kare wa tsuma to rikon shita.)

§ Mistake 2: Confusing 離婚する with other separation words

While 離婚する specifically means "to divorce" (ending a marriage legally), Japanese has other words for separation that might seem similar but have different nuances. Don't mix them up!

• 別れる (wakareru): This is a more general term for "to separate" or "to break up." It can be used for friends, lovers, or even just people saying goodbye. It doesn't necessarily imply a legal divorce.
• 解消する (kaishō suru): This means "to dissolve" or "to cancel," and it can be used in a legal sense for contracts or agreements. While a divorce is a dissolution of marriage, you wouldn't typically use 解消する directly for divorcing a person.

Example of 別れる

彼らは別れた。(Karera wa wakareta.)

This could mean they broke up as a couple, or simply went their separate ways. It doesn't confirm they were married and legally divorced.

§ Mistake 3: Overusing the verb particle を (o) when it's not needed

As mentioned with the particle と, sometimes learners might incorrectly insert を (o) with 離婚する, thinking it functions like a direct object marker for the person being divorced. However, 離婚する is often used intransitively, or with と to mark the co-actor.

Incorrect usage of を

彼女は夫を離婚したい。(Kanojo wa otto o rikon shitai.)

This again makes the husband seem like an object being acted upon. It's not how you express the desire to divorce someone.

Correct usage

彼女は夫と離婚したい。(Kanojo wa otto to rikon shitai.)

By being mindful of these common mistakes, you'll use 離婚する much more accurately and naturally. Pay attention to the particles, especially と, and differentiate it from other separation verbs. Keep practicing, and you'll master it in no time!