結婚します

The Japanese verb 結婚します (kekkon shimasu) is a fundamental vocabulary word that translates to 'to marry' or 'will marry' in English. It is the polite, non-past form of the verb 結婚する (kekkon suru). To truly understand this word, we must break down its components, explore its kanji origins, and examine how it functions within the broader context of Japanese grammar and society. The word is composed of two kanji characters: 結 (ketsu/musu-bu), which means 'to tie,' 'to bind,' or 'to join,' and 婚 (kon), which specifically refers to 'marriage' or 'wedlock.' Together, they form a compound noun (jukugo) that literally means 'the tying of a marriage.' When combined with the irregular verb します (shimasu), which means 'to do,' it becomes an action verb: 'to do marriage' or 'to marry.'

Kanji Breakdown: 結

The first kanji, 結, is deeply symbolic in Japanese culture. It represents the concept of musubi, the mystical power of creation and the invisible threads that bind people together. In the context of marriage, it signifies the joining of two lives, families, and destinies.

Understanding the grammatical nature of 結婚します is crucial for learners. It belongs to the Group 3 (irregular) verbs in Japanese, specifically the する (suru) verbs. These verbs are formed by taking a noun of Chinese origin (in this case, 結婚) and appending the verb する. This makes it incredibly versatile. You can use the noun form independently, such as in 結婚式 (kekkonshiki - wedding ceremony) or 結婚指輪 (kekkon yubiwa - wedding ring). When functioning as a verb, it describes the event or action of getting married, not the state of being married. This is a vital distinction that many learners struggle with initially.

In Japanese culture, the concept of marriage carries significant weight, often viewed not just as the union of two individuals, but as the joining of two families (ie). While modern Japan has adopted many Western wedding customs, the underlying linguistic expressions remain deeply rooted in traditional concepts of binding and commitment. The use of the polite form します indicates a level of respect and formality appropriate for discussing such a significant life event with acquaintances, colleagues, or superiors.

Kanji Breakdown: 婚

The second kanji, 婚, contains the radical for 'woman' (女) on the left. Historically, it related to the concept of a woman marrying into a family, reflecting traditional patriarchal structures, though modern usage simply denotes marriage universally.

When you say 結婚します, you are stating an intention or a scheduled event. It is an action that will happen at a specific point in time. If you want to say 'I am married' (describing your current state), you must use the continuous form: 結婚しています (kekkon shite imasu). This is because the action of getting married has been completed, and you are now in the resulting state of that action. This grammatical concept is known as the 'resultative state' and is common with verbs describing instantaneous changes, like opening a door, turning on a light, or getting married.

Verb Group

結婚します is a Group 3 verb. Its dictionary form is 結婚する (kekkon suru). Its te-form is 結婚して (kekkon shite), and its negative form is 結婚しません (kekkon shimasen).

Furthermore, the verb is intransitive in Japanese, which affects the particles used with it. You do not 'marry someone' using the direct object particle を (wo). Instead, you 'marry with someone' using the particle と (to). This subtle difference in particle usage highlights a conceptual difference in how the action is perceived: as a mutual, cooperative event rather than an action performed by one subject onto an object. Mastering this word opens the door to discussing relationships, life plans, and family structures in Japanese, making it an essential milestone for A2 level learners.

Using 結婚します correctly in a sentence requires a solid understanding of Japanese particles and verb tenses. Because it translates simply to 'marry' in English, English speakers often try to map English grammatical structures directly onto the Japanese word, leading to frequent errors. The most critical rule to remember is that 結婚します is an intransitive verb in Japanese. This means it does not take a direct object. You cannot use the particle を (wo) with it. In English, you say 'I will marry John,' where 'John' is the direct object. In Japanese, the conceptual framework is different; marriage is seen as a mutual action taken together with someone. Therefore, you must use the particle と (to), which means 'with' or 'together with.'

Particle Rule: と (to)

Always use the particle と (to) to indicate the person you are marrying. For example, 彼女と結婚します (kanojo to kekkon shimasu) means 'I will marry her' (literally: I will do marriage with her).

Another essential aspect of using this verb is understanding its tense and aspect. The form 結婚します is the non-past, polite form. It is used exclusively to describe an action that will happen in the future or a general statement of intent. If you say 私は結婚します (watashi wa kekkon shimasu), you are announcing your engagement or your future plans to wed. It translates to 'I will get married.' It does NOT mean 'I am married.' This is a profound difference from English, where 'married' functions as an adjective describing a state. In Japanese, to describe the state of being married, you must use the te-iru form: 結婚しています (kekkon shite imasu). This form indicates that the action of getting married occurred in the past, and the resulting state (being married) continues into the present.

When discussing the timing of a marriage, you will use time words along with the particle に (ni) if the time is specific (like a month or a year), or without a particle if it is a relative time word (like tomorrow, next year). For instance, 来年結婚します (rainen kekkon shimasu - I will marry next year) uses no particle after rainen. However, 十月に結婚します (juugatsu ni kekkon shimasu - I will marry in October) requires the particle に. You can also combine these to provide detailed information about your wedding plans.

Time Particles

Use に for specific times (months, dates, exact years). Do not use に for relative times (tomorrow, next year, someday).

In more complex sentences, 結婚します can be modified by various clauses. For example, you might want to express a condition: お金がたまったら、結婚します (okane ga tamattara, kekkon shimasu - If/When I save up money, I will get married). Or you might express a desire using the volitional form or the -tai form, though that changes the verb ending (結婚したいです - I want to get married). It is also common to use this verb when reporting news about others. In such cases, you might use quotation markers: 彼は来月結婚すると言っていました (kare wa raigetsu kekkon suru to itte imashita - He said he will get married next month). Notice how the plain form (結婚する) is used before the quotation particle と.

Negative Form

The negative polite form is 結婚しません (kekkon shimasen), meaning 'will not marry' or 'do not intend to marry.'

Understanding the sociolinguistic context is also vital. 結婚します is polite (teineigo). You would use this form when speaking to acquaintances, teachers, or colleagues. If you are talking to a close friend or family member, you would drop the -masu ending and use the dictionary form: 結婚する (kekkon suru). Conversely, if you are making a formal announcement to a large group of superiors or clients, you might elevate the formality to the humble form: 結婚いたします (kekkon itashimasu). Mastering these nuances ensures that your Japanese sounds natural, respectful, and contextually appropriate.

The phrase 結婚します is ubiquitous in Japanese society, reflecting the universal human experience of forming lifelong partnerships. As a learner, you will encounter this phrase in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from casual conversations among friends to highly formal announcements in professional settings. One of the most common places you will hear this is in daily conversation when people are sharing life updates. In Japan, announcing one's marriage is a significant social event, often accompanied by formal greetings and the exchange of gifts. When a colleague or friend decides to tie the knot, they will typically gather their peers or send out a message saying, '私事ですが、結婚します' (Watakushigoto desu ga, kekkon shimasu - On a personal note, I am getting married). This specific phrasing is a cultural staple, demonstrating humility before sharing personal joyous news.

Workplace Announcements

In Japanese corporate culture, it is customary to formally announce your marriage to your boss and team. The phrase '結婚します' is central to this formal report (houkoku).

Beyond personal interactions, the entertainment industry is a massive source of exposure for this vocabulary. Japanese television dramas (dorama), anime, and movies frequently center around romance, relationships, and family dynamics. In these narratives, the climax of a romantic arc often involves a proposal or a declaration of intent, where a character might emotionally state, '俺と結婚してください' (Ore to kekkon shite kudasai - Please marry me) or firmly declare, '私は彼と結婚します' (Watashi wa kare to kekkon shimasu - I will marry him). These dramatic contexts provide excellent listening practice for learners, showcasing the emotional weight and varied intonations associated with the word.

News broadcasts and media outlets also frequently use this term, particularly in the context of celebrity gossip or demographic reporting. When a famous singer or athlete announces their engagement, the headlines will often read '[Name]が結婚へ' ([Name] heading toward marriage) or the news anchor will report '[Name]さんが結婚します' ([Name] will marry). Furthermore, in broader societal discussions, you will hear variations of this word when experts discuss Japan's declining birthrate (shoushika) and changing attitudes toward marriage. Terms like 晩婚化 (bankonka - the trend of marrying later in life) or 非婚化 (hikonka - the trend of not marrying) are built upon the same kanji root, highlighting the word's relevance to contemporary social issues.

Media Usage

In written news, the plain form 結婚する is more common, but in spoken news broadcasts, the polite 結婚します is used by anchors addressing the audience.

Another context where you will frequently encounter this word is in administrative and legal settings. When a couple goes to the city hall (kuyakusho or shiyakusho) to submit their marriage registration (kounin todoke), the language used by officials and on the forms revolves around the concept of kekkon. While the legal term is often 婚姻 (kon'in), in spoken interactions with clerks, the standard verb is used. You might hear a clerk ask, 'いつ結婚しますか' (When will you marry?) to confirm the intended date of registration. Understanding this vocabulary is therefore not just about social interaction, but also about navigating the bureaucratic processes of life in Japan.

Wedding Invitations

Written invitations (shoutaijou) often use highly formal language, but the core message translates to the intention expressed by 結婚します.

When learning the Japanese verb 結婚します, English speakers and learners from other linguistic backgrounds frequently fall into several predictable traps. These mistakes usually stem from direct translation, misunderstanding particle usage, or confusion regarding Japanese verb tenses and aspects. By identifying and analyzing these common errors, learners can significantly improve their accuracy and sound much more natural when discussing marriage. The single most prevalent mistake is using the direct object particle を (wo) instead of the mutual action particle と (to). In English, 'to marry' is a transitive verb; you marry *someone*. Therefore, a learner might intuitively construct the sentence: 彼女を結婚します (kanojo wo kekkon shimasu). This is grammatically incorrect in Japanese and sounds very unnatural. Marriage is conceptualized as a joint venture, an action performed *with* someone. Thus, the correct phrasing is always 彼女と結婚します (kanojo to kekkon shimasu - I will marry with her).

Mistake 1: Particle を vs と

Incorrect: 彼を結婚します (Kare wo kekkon shimasu). Correct: 彼と結婚します (Kare to kekkon shimasu). Always use 'to' (with) for the person you are marrying.

The second major stumbling block involves tense and state. Many learners use 結婚します to mean 'I am married.' For example, if someone asks 'Are you single?', a learner might reply, 'いいえ、結婚します' (No, I will get married). This creates massive confusion. The non-past form 結婚します strictly means 'will marry' (future action) or 'marry' (habitual, though rarely used this way for marriage). It describes the *event* of getting married. If you are already married, you are in the *state* resulting from that past event. Therefore, you must use the te-iru form: 結婚しています (kekkon shite imasu). Failing to make this distinction can lead to awkward situations where people think you are announcing an upcoming wedding rather than stating your current marital status.

Another frequent error occurs when learners try to ask someone to marry them. Because they learn that 結婚します means 'marry,' they might try to form a proposal by saying 結婚しますか？ (Kekkon shimasu ka?). While grammatically correct, this translates to 'Will you get married?' as a general inquiry about their future plans, not a proposal. It sounds like you are asking if they plan to marry someone else someday. To propose, you must use the te-form as a request: 結婚してください (Kekkon shite kudasai - Please marry me). This subtle shift in verb conjugation completely changes the pragmatic meaning of the sentence from a factual question to a deeply personal request.

Mistake 2: Proposing Incorrectly

Incorrect proposal: 結婚しますか？ (Will you marry?). Correct proposal: 結婚してください (Please marry me).

Furthermore, learners sometimes confuse the noun form with the verb form. They might say 結婚があります (Kekkon ga arimasu - I have a marriage) when they mean they have a wedding ceremony to attend. In Japanese, the event you attend is the 結婚式 (kekkonshiki - wedding ceremony). So, you should say 結婚式があります (Kekkonshiki ga arimasu). Using just the word 結婚 implies the abstract concept of marriage rather than the physical event. It is crucial to attach the correct suffix (-shiki for ceremony, -seikatsu for life) to convey your exact meaning.

Mistake 3: Confusing Event and State

Remember that Japanese distinguishes heavily between the moment an action happens (結婚する) and the ongoing state resulting from that action (結婚している).

While 結婚します is the most common and versatile way to say 'to marry' in Japanese, the language offers a rich tapestry of related vocabulary that describes various stages, legalities, and nuances of the matrimonial process. Understanding these similar words allows learners to express themselves with greater precision and cultural fluency. A very common related term is 婚約します (konyaku shimasu), which means 'to get engaged.' This is the step that precedes marriage. Just like kekkon, it uses the kanji 婚 (marriage) combined with 約 (promise/agreement). If someone gives you a ring, they might say 婚約しました (We got engaged), and later they will say 結婚します (We will get married). Distinguishing between the promise to marry and the act of marrying is essential for accurate storytelling.

Comparison: 婚約する (Konyaku suru)

Means 'to get engaged.' It is the formal promise to marry, preceding the actual 結婚 (kekkon).

Another highly relevant and culturally specific term is 入籍します (nyuuseki shimasu). Literally translating to 'to enter the family register,' this word refers specifically to the legal act of submitting marriage documents to the government. In Japan, the family register (koseki) is the official record of births, deaths, and marriages. Therefore, a couple might have their wedding ceremony (結婚式) on one day, but legally register their marriage (入籍) on a completely different day. It is very common for Japanese people to say '明日、入籍します' (Tomorrow, we will register our marriage) to denote the legal start of their union, which carries a slightly different nuance than simply saying 'we will get married.'

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the word for divorce: 離婚します (rikon shimasu). This word shares the 婚 kanji but pairs it with 離 (ri), meaning 'to separate' or 'to detach.' It functions grammatically in the exact same way as kekkon shimasu, being a Group 3 suru-verb. You use the particle と to indicate who you are divorcing from (彼と離婚します - I will divorce him). Understanding this antonym is crucial for comprehending the full lifecycle of relationships as discussed in Japanese media and daily life.

Comparison: 離婚する (Rikon suru)

The direct antonym of 結婚する. It means 'to divorce.' It also takes the particle と (to).

There are also more formal or archaic terms for marriage. For instance, 婚姻 (kon'in) is the strict legal term for matrimony, used in legal documents and academic discussions. You would not use this in daily conversation to say 'I am getting married.' Another related concept is お見合い (omiai), which refers to a formal, arranged introduction with the specific goal of marriage. If an omiai is successful, it leads to an お見合い結婚 (omiai kekkon - arranged marriage), as opposed to a 恋愛結婚 (ren'ai kekkon - love marriage). Knowing these compound words helps contextualize the cultural history of marriage in Japan.

Comparison: 嫁ぐ (Totsugu)

A traditional, somewhat outdated verb meaning 'to marry into a family' (usually referring to a woman). It highlights the historical patriarchal structure.