既婚

The Japanese word 既婚 (きこん - kikon) is a noun that directly translates to 'married person' or 'the state of being married'. It's a formal and common term used in various contexts, from official documents and surveys to everyday conversations when discussing marital status. Unlike English, where we might say 'He is married' or 'She is married,' Japanese often uses 既婚 to refer to the status itself or the individual holding that status. It's important to note that 既婚 is generally used in a more objective or descriptive manner, often in contrast to 未婚 (みこん - mikon), meaning 'unmarried' or 'single'.

You'll frequently encounter 既婚 in situations requiring factual information about an individual's marital status. This includes things like job applications, hotel registration forms, surveys about demographics, and legal documents. For instance, when filling out a form, you might see a checkbox or a field asking for your marital status, and 既婚 would be one of the options. In a more casual setting, someone might ask about another person's marital status by inquiring if they are 既婚 or 未婚. This term is a fundamental part of discussing personal circumstances in Japanese society.

Consider the following sentence:

Translation: 'That questionnaire had a section to fill in whether one is married or unmarried.'

Formal Usage

In formal settings like official documents or surveys, 既婚 is the standard term for 'married'.

Contrast with 未婚

It is most commonly used in direct contrast to 未婚 (unmarried).

Describing Status

It describes the state or status of being married, rather than the act of marrying.

Using 既婚 in sentences is straightforward, especially when referring to someone's marital status. It often appears in sentences describing a person or when asking about their marital status. Remember that it's a noun, so it functions as a subject, object, or part of a predicate. You'll commonly see it paired with particles like は (wa) or が (ga) when referring to a person's status, or used in questions.

One common pattern is to state that someone *is* 既婚. This can be done using です (desu) or である (dearu) in more formal contexts. For example:

Translation: 'Mr. Tanaka is married.'

In more formal writing or speech, you might use である:

Translation: 'Among the survey subjects, the proportion of married individuals is high.'

Questions about marital status often use 既婚:

Translation: 'Are you married?'

Subject + は + 既婚 + です/である

This is the most common structure to state someone's married status. Example: 彼女は既婚です。(Kanojo wa kikon desu. - She is married.)

In questions

Used directly in questions about marital status. Example: ご家族は既婚ですか？(Gokazoku wa kikon desu ka? - Is your family member married? - This is a polite way to ask about someone else's spouse.)

In descriptive clauses

Can be part of a larger sentence describing a group or individual. Example: 既婚者向けのパーティーが開かれた。(Kikonsha muke no pātī ga hirakareta. - A party for married people was held.) Note: 既婚者 (kikonsha) means 'married person'.

You'll encounter 既婚 (kikon) in a variety of real-life situations, primarily in contexts where factual information about marital status is relevant. While not as common in casual, everyday chatter as some other words, its presence is significant in specific domains. Think of situations that involve official records, demographic studies, or formal personal inquiries.

One of the most common places is on official forms and applications. Whether it's for a new job, a loan, insurance, or even registering for certain services, you'll often find a section asking about your marital status. In Japan, 既婚 is a standard option alongside 未婚 (unmarried), divorce (離婚 - rikon), and widowhood (死別 - shibetsu). For instance, a company might ask for this information for HR or benefits purposes.

Surveys and research are another major area. Sociologists, market researchers, and government agencies frequently collect data on marital status to understand population trends, consumer behavior, and social dynamics. In such surveys, 既婚 serves as a clear and unambiguous category.

In legal and administrative settings, such as marriage registration, divorce proceedings, or estate planning, the term 既婚 is used to define the legal status of individuals involved. It's crucial for accurately documenting relationships and responsibilities.

You might also hear it in news reports or discussions about demographics. For example, a news segment discussing population aging might mention the percentage of the population that is 既婚.

While less common, it can appear in more formal personal conversations, perhaps when discussing family matters or introducing someone's situation objectively. For example, if you're meeting someone's parents, and the topic of their children comes up, someone might mention, 'My son is already 既婚.' (My son is already married.)

Here's an example of where you might see it:

Translation: 'One of the eligibility requirements for this insurance is being married.'

Official Forms

Job applications, loan forms, insurance documents, and government registration forms.

Surveys and Research

Demographic studies, market research questionnaires, and sociological surveys.

Legal and Administrative Contexts

Marriage certificates, divorce papers, and other legal documentation.

News and Media

Reports on population statistics, social trends, or family-related issues.

When learning Japanese, learners might make a few common mistakes when using or understanding 既婚 (kikon). These often stem from direct translations from English or misunderstandings about its nuance and usage.

One frequent error is trying to use 既婚 as a verb or an adjective directly describing someone. For example, saying something like 「私は既婚です」 is correct, but learners might mistakenly try to say 「私は既婚している」 (I am married-doing), which is grammatically incorrect and unnatural. 既婚 is a noun representing the state of being married, not an action.

Another mistake involves confusing 既婚 with more casual ways of talking about marriage. While 既婚 is perfectly acceptable and widely used, in very close, informal settings among friends, one might simply say 「結婚している」(kekkon shite iru - am married) which uses the verb 結婚する (kekkon suru - to marry) in its continuous form. Using 既婚 in such a casual context might sound slightly stiff or overly formal, though not necessarily wrong.

Misunderstanding its antonym is also common. The direct opposite of 既婚 is 未婚 (mikon - unmarried). However, some learners might incorrectly assume that 既婚 is the opposite of something like divorce (離婚 - rikon) or being single in a broader sense. It's important to remember that 既婚 specifically refers to the state of *currently* being married, and 未婚 refers to the state of *not currently* being married (which can encompass never married, divorced, or widowed individuals in some contexts, though it most directly means 'never married').

Finally, learners might overthink its usage in sentences. They might try to conjugate it or add unnecessary particles. Remember that 既婚 is a noun. It functions like 'marriage' or 'married status'. So, sentences like 「既婚の男性」(kikon no dansei - a married man) or 「既婚者です」(kikonsha desu - I am a married person) are standard. Trying to force it into verb-like structures is the main pitfall.

Here’s an example of a common mistake:

Correct: 私は既婚です。(Watashi wa kikon desu.) or 私は結婚しています。(Watashi wa kekkon shite imasu.)

Using 既婚 as a Verb

Mistake: Treating 既婚 as a verb and conjugating it (e.g., 既婚している). Correct: 既婚 is a noun. Use です or である to state the status, or use 結婚している (kekkon shite iru) which is the continuous form of the verb 結婚する (kekkon suru - to marry).

Overly Formal in Casual Settings

Mistake: Using 既婚 in very casual conversations where 結婚している might be more natural. Correct: Understand the register. 既婚 is fine for most situations, but be aware of the slightly more casual alternative.

Confusing Antonyms

Mistake: Assuming 既婚's opposite is divorce or single in all senses. Correct: The direct antonym is 未婚 (mikon - unmarried). 未婚 primarily means 'never married' but can sometimes broadly refer to 'not currently married'.

Understanding 既婚 (kikon) is best done by comparing it with related terms. Japanese, like any language, has nuances, and different words convey slightly different meanings or are used in different contexts.

The most direct counterpart to 既婚 is 未婚 (みこん - mikon). While 既婚 means 'married', 未婚 means 'unmarried'. This is the most fundamental contrast. 未婚 typically refers to someone who has never been married, but it can sometimes be used more broadly to mean 'not currently married', encompassing divorced or widowed individuals depending on the context. However, the primary meaning is 'never married'.

Another important related term is 結婚している (けっこんしている - kekkon shite iru). This is the continuous form of the verb 結婚する (kekkon suru - to marry). Literally, it means 'is marrying' or 'is in the state of being married'. This is often used in more casual conversation than 既婚. For example, you might say 「彼は結婚している」(kare wa kekkon shite iru - he is married) to a friend, whereas in a formal document, you would use 既婚.

You might also encounter 既婚者 (きこんしゃ - kikonsha). This word literally means 'married person'. It's a noun that refers to an individual who is married. It's often used when discussing groups or categories of people, such as in the phrase 既婚者向けのイベント (kikonsha muke no ibento - an event for married people).

Other related terms include:

• 離婚 (りこん - rikon): Divorce. This refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage.
• 独身 (どくしん - dokushin): Single; unmarried. This term often carries a slightly more informal or personal connotation than 未婚 and can sometimes imply being available or not tied down.
• 配偶者 (はいぐうしゃ - haigūsha): Spouse. This is a formal term for one's husband or wife.

Here's a comparison:

既婚 (kikon)

Formal noun for 'married status' or 'married person'. Used in official documents, surveys, and formal contexts.

未婚 (mikon)

Formal noun for 'unmarried status'. Primarily means 'never married'. The direct opposite of 既婚.

結婚している (kekkon shite iru)

Verb phrase (continuous form) meaning 'is married'. More common in casual conversation.

既婚者 (kikonsha)

Noun meaning 'married person'. Refers to the individual.