離婚をする

You can use it in a few ways. To say 'A and B are getting divorced,' use AとBが離婚をする. If you want to say 'A is divorcing B,' use AがBと離婚をする. In casual speech, people often drop the particle を and just say 離婚する. It sounds a bit more natural and less like a textbook. Just remember to use the past tense 離婚した if the deed is already done.

Use this when discussing life changes or legal statuses. It fits perfectly in serious conversations with friends. It also works when reading news about celebrities or discussing legal matters with a professional. If you are filling out a form, you might see just 離婚. If you are telling a secret to a best friend over coffee, 離婚するんだ (I'm getting divorced) is the way to go.

Never use this for a boyfriend or girlfriend! For non-married couples, use 別れる (to separate/break up). Using 離婚をする for a casual dating partner sounds like you accidentally got married. Also, avoid bringing it up at weddings—obviously. It is a heavy topic, so don't use it as a joke unless you know the person very well. Even then, it is a bit of a 'mood killer' at a party.

In Japan, divorce used to carry a heavy social stigma. However, things are changing fast. You might hear the term バツイチ (batsu-ichi), which means 'one strike.' It refers to the 'X' mark that used to be placed on family registries after a divorce. Interestingly, some couples now have 'divorce ceremonies.' They literally smash their wedding rings with a mallet to celebrate a fresh start. It is a quirky way to turn a sad event into a positive one.

The most common variation is 離婚した (got divorced). You might also hear 熟年離婚 (jukunen rikon). This refers to 'late-life divorce' after many years of marriage. Another one is 成田離婚 (Narita rikon). This is a funny term for couples who divorce immediately after their honeymoon at Narita Airport. Apparently, traveling together for the first time can be a real deal-breaker!