結婚します

§ What 結婚します means

結婚します (kekkon shimasu) is a verb that means 'to marry'. It's a straightforward term you'll hear and use frequently when talking about marriage in Japanese. This verb is in the polite form, which is what you'll generally use in most conversations unless you're speaking to very close friends or family in an informal setting.

Meaning

To marry, to get married.

The verb 結婚します is made up of two parts: 結婚 (kekkon) which means 'marriage', and します (shimasu) which is the polite form of the verb 'to do'. So, literally, it means 'to do marriage' or 'to perform marriage'. This structure is common in Japanese for many verbs that involve an action or event (e.g., 勉強します - benkyou shimasu - to study, 運転します - unten shimasu - to drive).

You'll use 結婚します when you want to express the act of getting married. It's not usually used to refer to the state of being married (for that, you'd typically use 結婚しています - kekkon shite imasu, which means 'is married' or 'has been married'). We'll cover that distinction in more detail later.

In the example above, the speaker is saying they will marry their boyfriend next year. It's a statement about a future action.

This second example is a direct question asking 'When will you marry?' or 'When are you getting married?'. Again, it refers to the act of marrying.

§ When do people use 結婚します?

You'll use 結婚します in a variety of situations related to the event of getting married. Here are some common scenarios:

• Announcing your own marriage plans: If you're telling someone that you are going to get married, this is the verb you'll use.
• Asking about someone else's marriage plans: When you want to inquire about when someone plans to marry, or if they plan to marry.
• Talking about a third person's marriage: Discussing when a friend, family member, or even a celebrity got or will get married.
• In formal announcements or reports: While there might be more formal or specific phrases for wedding announcements, 結婚します is the fundamental verb used.

It's important to understand the nuance that 結婚します focuses on the *action* or *event* of marrying. Think of it as 'the wedding ceremony will happen' or 'the legal process of marriage will take place'. It's about the transition from being single to being married.

Consider this:

This sentence means 'He will marry her' or 'He is going to marry her'. It describes the act of them entering into marriage.

When you're first learning, focus on using 結婚します for the explicit act of marrying. As you advance, you'll naturally pick up the subtle differences with other related phrases like 結婚している (kekkon shite iru - is married) or 結婚式 (kekkonshiki - wedding ceremony).

§ Basic Meaning of 結婚します

The Japanese verb 結婚します (kekkon shimasu) directly translates to "to marry." It's a formal and polite way to talk about getting married. You'll hear this word in many different situations, from casual chats with friends to more formal announcements.

Japanese Word

結婚します (kekkon shimasu)

Meaning

To marry

CEFR Level

A2

§ Using 結婚します in conversation

You'll often hear 結婚します when people are discussing future plans, relationship statuses, or making announcements. It's a straightforward verb to use and doesn't require complex grammatical structures for basic sentences.

Here are some common scenarios:

• Talking about someone else getting married.
• Announcing your own marriage plans.
• Asking someone if they are married or plan to marry.

Translation hint: "Next year, (I) will marry."

Translation hint: "(I) will marry him."

§ Hearing 結婚します at Work

In a work setting, you might hear 結婚します during casual conversations with colleagues or when someone makes a formal announcement to the team. It's common for coworkers to share personal news like this.

Translation hint: "Tanaka-san will marry next month."

Translation hint: "Congratulations! When will (you) marry?"

§ 結婚します in School and Social Circles

Among students or in social groups, 結婚します is used in similar ways. Friends might share their engagement news or discuss mutual acquaintances getting married. The context often implies a more casual and personal tone compared to a formal work announcement.

Translation hint: "My friend will marry next year."

Translation hint: "(I) want to marry someday." (Note: This uses the -tai form for desire)

§ 結婚します in News and Media

You'll frequently encounter 結婚します in news reports, particularly celebrity gossip magazines, entertainment news, and sometimes even in more serious news when discussing public figures. The news often uses a slightly more formal register, but the verb remains the same.

For example, a news headline or article might state:

Translation hint: "Popular actor will marry a non-celebrity woman."

Translation hint: "She married the other day."

§ Variations and Related Phrases

While 結婚します is the standard, you might also hear related phrases that convey similar ideas:

• 結婚する (kekkon suru): This is the plain, dictionary form of the verb. It's less formal than 結婚します and often used among close friends or in informal writing.

• 既婚 (kikon): This noun means "married" (as in, a married person) or "marriage status." You might see it on forms or in demographic discussions.

• 独身 (dokushin): This means "single" or "unmarried," the opposite of being married.

Understanding these variations will help you grasp the nuances of conversations about marriage in Japanese.

§ Mistakes people make with 結婚します

Let's talk about some common pitfalls when using 結婚します (kekkon shimasu), meaning 'to marry'. Even simple words can cause confusion, so pay attention to these points to use it correctly.

DEFINITION

結婚します (kekkon shimasu): To marry. This is a verb and always requires a particle to indicate who you are marrying.

§ Mistake 1: Not using the correct particle for 'with'

A very common mistake is forgetting or misusing the particle that indicates 'with whom' you are marrying. In Japanese, when you marry someone, you use the particle と (to) after the person's name or a pronoun referring to them.

Hint: He will marry her.

Hint: Next year, I will marry him.

§ Mistake 2: Confusing 'to marry' with 'to get married to'

While 結婚します directly means 'to marry', some learners try to overcomplicate it by thinking in English structures like 'to get married to'. Just use 結婚します as is with the と particle.

Incorrect example (thinking too literally from English):

• 私は彼に結婚します (Watashi wa kare ni kekkon shimasu) - This is incorrect. The particle に (ni) is generally not used in this context.

Correct usage:

Hint: I will marry him.

§ Mistake 3: Omitting the subject when it's clear from context

While Japanese often omits subjects when they are understood, new learners sometimes include them unnecessarily, or omit them when they aren't clear, leading to awkward sentences. With 結婚します, if the subject is obvious, you can leave it out.

For example, in a conversation where it's clear you're talking about yourself:

Hint: Next year, (I) will marry.

However, if the subject is not obvious, you must include it:

Hint: My younger sister will marry next year.

§ Mistake 4: Using it for 'being married'

結婚します describes the action of marrying. It doesn't describe the state of being married. For 'being married', you would typically use 結婚しています (kekkon shite imasu) or 結婚している (kekkon shite iru).

Hint: He is married.

Hint: Are you married?

By keeping these points in mind, you'll be able to use 結婚します much more accurately and naturally. Practice these examples, and you'll improve quickly!

§ What 結婚します (kekkon shimasu) means

Japanese Word

結婚します (kekkon shimasu)

Meaning

To marry

CEFR Level

A2

結婚します (kekkon shimasu) is the standard Japanese verb for 'to marry'. It's a very common and essential word to know.

§ Examples of 結婚します in sentences

Hint

I will marry next year. (Literally: Next year, marry.)

Hint

She married him. (Literally: She with him married.)

Hint

When do you want to marry? (Literally: When marry want?) This uses the -tai form for 'want to do'.

§ Grammar notes for 結婚します

結婚します is a する (suru) verb, which means it's a noun (結婚 - kekkon, marriage) combined with the verb します (shimasu, to do). This is a common pattern in Japanese. When conjugating, you conjugate します.

§ Similar words and when to use 結婚します vs alternatives

While 結婚します is the most direct way to say 'to marry', here are a few related terms and when you might use them:

• 結婚 (kekkon)

  This is the noun 'marriage'. You'll see it in phrases like 結婚祝い (kekkon iwai - wedding gift) or 結婚式 (kekkon shiki - wedding ceremony).

  You wouldn't use 結婚 by itself to mean 'to marry' because it's a noun. You need the する verb attached to make it an action.

• 夫婦 (fūfu)

  This means 'married couple' or 'husband and wife'. It describes the state of being married, not the act of marrying.

  彼らは夫婦です。

  Hint

  They are a married couple. (Literally: They are husband and wife.)

• 嫁ぐ (totsugu) / 娶る (mekatoru)

  These are older, more traditional verbs for 'to marry'. 嫁ぐ specifically means for a woman to marry into a family, while 娶る is for a man to take a wife. These are not commonly used in everyday conversation today, especially by younger generations. 結婚します is the neutral and widely accepted term.

  Unless you're reading classical literature or talking about very traditional contexts, stick with 結婚します. It's the practical choice.

• 入籍する (nyūseki suru)

  This literally means 'to enter the family registry'. In Japan, the legal act of marriage involves registering it with the local government. So, while it's not 'to marry' in the romantic sense, it is the legal side of getting married.

  You might use this if you're talking about the official paperwork or the legal status of marriage.

  私たちは先月入籍しました。

  Hint

  We registered our marriage last month. (Literally: We last month entered family registry did.)

In summary, for general conversation about getting married, always use 結婚します. It's the most versatile and common term. The other words have more specific uses or are less common in modern speech.