When you're learning Japanese at a B1 level, expanding your vocabulary for expressing emotions and personal situations is very useful. The word 告白 (kokuhaku) is a great example of this.
It primarily means a confession, often in the romantic sense, where someone reveals their feelings to another person. However, it can also refer to acknowledging or admitting something, like confessing to a mistake.
Understanding this word allows you to grasp conversations and media where personal revelations are a key theme.
It's an important word for understanding social interactions and relationships in a Japanese context, moving beyond basic greetings and everyday situations.
When you're ready to dive deeper into Japanese nuances, understanding words like 告白 (kokuhaku) becomes essential. At a C1 level, you're moving beyond basic definitions to grasp the cultural weight and subtle implications of such terms.
While 告白 directly translates to "confession" or "acknowledgment," it often carries a romantic connotation in everyday Japanese. It's the act of revealing one's romantic feelings to another, a significant and often nerve-wracking moment in Japanese dating culture.
However, it's not exclusively romantic. You might also use it for confessing a secret, admitting a mistake, or even publicly acknowledging something important. The key is the personal revelation aspect.
So, while the core meaning is straightforward, a C1 learner should recognize the common contexts and emotional weight that 告白 carries, especially in social interactions.
When you hear 告白 (kokuhaku), the first thing that probably comes to mind for many is a romantic confession, like admitting your feelings to someone you like. While that's a very common and strong usage, it's good to know that the word is a bit broader than just that. It can also refer to a confession of a secret or even an acknowledgment of something, like confessing to a crime or admitting a mistake. So, while often dramatic and personal, it's essentially about revealing something, whether it's your heart or a hidden truth.
告白 30秒了解
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Alright, let's talk about some common pitfalls English speakers encounter when using 告白 (kokuhaku). This word might seem straightforward, but there are nuances that can trip you up. Avoid these mistakes to sound more natural and express yourself correctly.
§ Mistake 1: Using 告白 for all 'confessions'
The biggest mistake is thinking 告白 covers every type of confession. In English, you can confess to a crime, confess a secret, or confess your love. In Japanese, 告白 is primarily used for revealing deep personal feelings, especially romantic ones, or acknowledging something personal. It's not typically used for confessing to a crime or admitting a minor mistake.
- Wrong example
- 私は罪を告白しました。(Watashi wa tsumi o kokuhaku shimashita.) - This sounds unnatural for confessing a crime. You'd typically use words like 自白 (jihaku) for a criminal confession.
- Correct Usage for Crime
- 犯人は罪を自白した。(Hannin wa tsumi o jihaku shita.) - The criminal confessed to the crime.
§ Mistake 2: Assuming it's always romantic
While 告白 is very common in romantic contexts, it's not *only* for romantic confessions. You can use it when revealing a significant personal feeling or truth that isn't necessarily about love.
彼は自分の過去について告白した。(Kare wa jibun no kako ni tsuite kokuhaku shita.)
Hint: He revealed / spoke openly about his past.
Here, it's not romantic, but it's still a significant personal revelation. It implies a sense of honesty and vulnerability.
§ Mistake 3: Overusing it for minor admissions
If you just want to admit a small mistake, 告白 is too strong. It carries a certain weight. For minor admissions, there are more casual phrases.
Instead of: 私は宿題を忘れたことを告白します。(Watashi wa shukudai o wasureta koto o kokuhaku shimasu.) - This sounds overly dramatic for forgetting homework.
Use something like: 宿題を忘れてしまいました。(Shukudai o wasurete shimaimashita.) - I forgot my homework (simple admission).
§ Mistake 4: Not understanding the implications of 'shita' vs. 'suru'
When someone says 告白された (kokuhaku sareta), it specifically means 'I was confessed to' (often romantically). The passive form is very common in this context.
彼に告白された。(Kare ni kokuhaku sareta.)
Hint: He confessed his feelings to me.
If you say 告白する (kokuhaku suru), you are the one doing the confessing.
§ Mistake 5: Translating too literally
Direct translation can often lead to awkwardness. Think about the *feeling* and *situation* where you'd use 'confession' in English, and then see if 告白 fits the Japanese equivalent. If it's a deep, personal, often emotional revelation, then 告白 is probably a good fit.
Keep these points in mind, and you'll navigate 告白 much more smoothly. It's a powerful word when used correctly, so make sure you're hitting the right mark!
发音指南
- Mispronouncing the 'o' as a long 'o' instead of a short 'o'.
- Confusing the 'u' with a 'y' sound.
- Incorrectly stressing the second syllable instead of the first.
需要掌握的语法
「〜に告白する」 (to confess to someone): Use the particle 「に」 to indicate the person to whom the confession is made.
彼氏に告白した。 (I confessed to my boyfriend.)
「〜と告白する」 (to confess that...): Use the particle 「と」 when directly quoting or paraphrasing the content of the confession.
彼女は彼に秘密を告白した。 (She confessed a secret to him.)
「告白された」 (to be confessed to): Use the passive voice to express that someone received a confession.
昨日、友達に告白された。 (Yesterday, a friend confessed to me.)
「告白の言葉」 (words of confession): Use 「の」 to connect 「告白」 with a noun describing the content or nature of the confession.
告白の言葉を準備する。 (Prepare words of confession.)
「告白する勇気」 (courage to confess): Use 「する」 with nouns to indicate the action, and then connect with 「勇気」 (courage) using no particle in this specific common phrase.
告白する勇気がない。 (I don't have the courage to confess.)
容易混淆的词
Criminal confession vs. personal/romantic confession.
To confide/reveal deeply personal thoughts (verb) vs. the noun 'confession'.
Colloquial confession of wrongdoing vs. personal/romantic confession.
语法模式
容易混淆
Both 'kokuhaku' and 'jihaku' can mean 'confession.' However, they apply to different contexts, which can be confusing for learners.
'自白 (jihaku)' specifically refers to confessing a crime or wrongdoing to authorities. It's a legal term. '告白 (kokuhaku)' is broader and more commonly used for revealing personal feelings or a secret, especially in a romantic context.
犯人は警察に自白した。(The criminal confessed to the police.)
This verb also means 'to confess' or 'to open one's heart,' leading to overlap with 'kokuhaku.'
'打ち明ける (uchiakeru)' is a verb that means to reveal one's true feelings, secrets, or troubles to someone. While '告白 (kokuhaku)' can be used for this too, '打ち明ける' often implies a more intimate sharing of something burdensome or difficult, not necessarily romantic.
彼女に秘密を打ち明けた。(I confided my secret to her.)
Similar to '自白 (jihaku),' '白状 (hakujou)' also relates to confessing wrongdoing.
'白状 (hakujou)' is a more colloquial term for confessing a crime or a secret, often implying being forced or pressured into it, or a reluctant admission. It's less formal than '自白 (jihaku)' and not typically used for romantic confessions.
彼は全てを白状した。(He confessed everything.)
This verb means 'to tell' or 'to inform,' which can seem similar to the act of confessing.
'告げる (tsugeru)' is a general verb for conveying information. While a '告白 (kokuhaku)' involves 'telling' something, '告げる' lacks the specific nuance of revealing personal feelings or secrets that '告白' carries.
彼女に別れを告げた。(I told her goodbye.)
This phrase means 'to speak honestly,' which might be confused with confessing or being open.
'正直に言う (shoujiki ni iu)' is a general expression for speaking candidly or telling the truth. It doesn't inherently carry the weight or specific context of revealing deep personal feelings or secrets in the way '告白 (kokuhaku)' does.
正直に言うと、それは私の間違いでした。(Honestly, it was my mistake.)
句型
[誰か] に 告白 する (Dareka ni kokuhaku suru)
彼は彼女に告白した。(Kare wa kanojo ni kokuhaku shita.) - He confessed to her.
告白 を する (Kokuhaku o suru)
勇気を出して告白をした。(Yūki o dashite kokuhaku o shita.) - I gathered courage and made a confession.
告白 を 受ける (Kokuhaku o ukeru)
彼女は彼からの告白を受けた。(Kanojo wa kare kara no kokuhaku o uketa.) - She received a confession from him.
[事実] を 告白 する (Jijitsu o kokuhaku suru)
彼は自分の過ちを告白した。(Kare wa jibun no ayamachi o kokuhaku shita.) - He confessed his mistake.
告白 が 成功 する/失敗 する (Kokuhaku ga seikō suru/shippai suru)
彼の告白は成功した。(Kare no kokuhaku wa seikō shita.) - His confession succeeded.
常见问题
10 个问题告白 (kokuhaku) is about revealing something personal, often a secret or your feelings. Think 'confessing love' or 'confessing a crime.' 言い訳 (iiwake), on the other hand, means 'excuse' or 'justification.' So, someone might make an 言い訳 for being late, but they'd make a 告白 to share deep feelings.
Yes, absolutely. While it's very commonly associated with love confessions, 告白 can also mean confessing to a crime or wrongdoing. For example, 警察に罪を告白する (keisatsu ni tsumi o kokuhaku suru) means 'to confess a crime to the police.'
Not always. While it's frequently used in a romantic context to mean 'confessing one's love,' it can also be used for revealing any personal feelings, a secret, or an acknowledgment of something. So, you could confess a secret fear with 告白, not just your feelings for someone.
A common way to confess love is to say: 「好きです。付き合ってください。」と告白した。 (Suki desu. Tsukiatte kudasai. to kokuhaku shita.) This translates to: 'I confessed, saying, "I like you. Please go out with me."' The 'to' particle after the quoted speech indicates what was confessed.
Yes, there's often a sense of vulnerability or a significant reveal involved with 告白. It's not for trivial sharing. When you use 告白 for personal feelings, it implies that what you're sharing is important and perhaps difficult to say. It's a significant opening up.
The verb form is 告白する (kokuhaku suru). Adding する (suru) to many nouns makes them verbs in Japanese. So, 告白 (noun) becomes 告白する (to confess, to acknowledge).
It depends on the context. If you're talking about romantic relationships or serious revelations, then yes, it's very common. However, you wouldn't use it for mundane daily shares. It carries a certain weight, so it's reserved for significant confessions or revelations.
Reactions vary, of course, but it's often a big moment. The person receiving the confession might be surprised, happy, or even need time to think. It's usually taken quite seriously, as a love confession in Japan is a direct step towards a committed relationship.
Yes, it can. While we often focus on love confessions, 告白 can definitely be used for confessing mistakes or wrongdoing. For example, 自分の過ちを告白する (jibun no ayamachi o kokuhaku suru) means 'to confess one's own mistake.'
A very common phrase is 愛の告白 (ai no kokuhaku), which literally means 'confession of love' or 'love confession.' Another is 告白する (kokuhaku suru) as we discussed, meaning 'to confess.' You might also hear 告白される (kokuhaku sareru), meaning 'to be confessed to (by someone).'
自我测试 60 个问题
This sentence means 'I confessed that I like you.' The basic structure in Japanese often places the subject first, followed by the object or what is being confessed, and then the verb.
This means 'I confessed to him.' '彼に' (kare ni) indicates 'to him,' followed by '告白' (kokuhaku - confession) and 'した' (shita - did).
This sentence means 'She confessed a secret.' '彼女は' (kanojo wa) is 'She,' '秘密を' (himitsu o) is 'a secret (object),' and '告白した' (kokuhaku shita) is 'confessed.'
Choose the best English translation for 「告白」:
「告白」 (kokuhaku) directly translates to 'confession' or 'acknowledgment,' especially regarding feelings.
Which situation best describes using 「告白」?
「告白」 is often used when revealing romantic feelings to someone.
If someone says 「告白したい」 (kokuhaku shitai), what do they want to do?
「告白したい」 means 'I want to confess.'
「告白」 is primarily used for telling a secret that is not related to personal feelings.
While it can be a secret, 「告白」 strongly implies revealing personal feelings, often romantic ones.
You can use 「告白」 when you admit you made a mistake at work.
「告白」 can be used for any acknowledgment or admission, including mistakes.
「告白」 is a common word to use when asking someone for their name.
「告白」 is not used for simple questions like asking a name. It's for revealing or admitting something significant.
Imagine you received a small, unexpected gift from a friend. Write a short message (2-3 sentences) thanking them and mentioning how it made you feel. Use simple Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
プレゼント、ありがとう！とても嬉しいです。
You want to invite a friend to have coffee next week. Write a simple message (2-3 sentences) asking them. Use polite Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
来週、一緒にコーヒーを飲みませんか？
Describe your favorite food in one simple Japanese sentence. What is it and why do you like it?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私の好きな食べ物はラーメンです。とてもおいしいです。
田中さんは今、何をしていますか？
Read this passage:
田中さんは先週、新しい会社に入りました。毎日、新しいことを勉強しています。少し大変ですが、楽しいです。
田中さんは今、何をしていますか？
パッセージの「毎日、新しいことを勉強しています」から、田中さんが新しい会社で学んでいることがわかります。
パッセージの「毎日、新しいことを勉強しています」から、田中さんが新しい会社で学んでいることがわかります。
この人は何が好きですか？
Read this passage:
私は日本の漫画が好きです。特に、アクション漫画をよく読みます。先月、新しい漫画をたくさん買いました。
この人は何が好きですか？
パッセージの「私は日本の漫画が好きです」から、この人が日本の漫画を好んでいることがわかります。
パッセージの「私は日本の漫画が好きです」から、この人が日本の漫画を好んでいることがわかります。
山田さんは週末に何をしましたか？
Read this passage:
山田さんは週末、友達と公園に行きました。天気がとてもよかったので、ピクニックをしました。楽しかったです。
山田さんは週末に何をしましたか？
パッセージの「週末、友達と公園に行きました。ピクニックをしました。」から、山田さんが友達と公園でピクニックをしたことがわかります。
パッセージの「週末、友達と公園に行きました。ピクニックをしました。」から、山田さんが友達と公園でピクニックをしたことがわかります。
This sentence means 'He confessed to me.' The particle 'に' (ni) marks the indirect object.
This sentence means 'Her confession was unexpected.' 'の' (no) shows possession, and 'は' (wa) marks the topic.
This sentence means 'You should be brave and confess.' '勇気を出して' (yūki o dashite) means 'to gather courage,' and 'べきだ' (beki da) means 'should'.
Imagine you confessed your feelings to someone. Write a short journal entry about how you felt before and after the confession. Use '告白' in your entry.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
今日は彼に告白しました。とても緊張しましたが、今は少し安心しています。私の気持ちを伝えることができてよかったです。
You are writing a short story. A character is about to make a confession. Describe their internal thoughts and feelings leading up to the '告白'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彼女は心臓がドキドキするのを感じた。これから彼に告白するのだ。うまくいくかどうか、不安でいっぱいだった。
Think about a time someone confessed something important to you (not necessarily romantic). How did you react? Write a brief description using '告白'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
先日、友達が私に大切な秘密を告白してくれました。最初は驚きましたが、彼の勇気を尊重し、しっかり受け止めました。
田中さんは何をする決心をしましたか？
Read this passage:
田中さんは、ずっと好きだった人に告白する決心をしました。彼女は手紙を書き、自分の正直な気持ちを伝えました。返事を待つ間、彼女はとても緊張していました。
田中さんは何をする決心をしましたか？
文章の冒頭に「田中さんは、ずっと好きだった人に告白する決心をしました」とあります。
文章の冒頭に「田中さんは、ずっと好きだった人に告白する決心をしました」とあります。
話者は彼の告白についてどう感じましたか？
Read this passage:
彼からの告白は、私にとって驚きでした。まさか彼がそんな気持ちを持っているとは思いませんでした。でも、彼の真剣な言葉に感動しました。
話者は彼の告白についてどう感じましたか？
「彼からの告白は、私にとって驚きでした」という記述があります。
「彼からの告白は、私にとって驚きでした」という記述があります。
この文章によると、失敗を告白することの良い点は何ですか？
Read this passage:
友達に自分の失敗を告白するのは勇気がいります。しかし、正直に話すことで、私たちはより深い信頼関係を築くことができます。
この文章によると、失敗を告白することの良い点は何ですか？
「正直に話すことで、私たちはより深い信頼関係を築くことができます」と書かれています。
「正直に話すことで、私たちはより深い信頼関係を築くことができます」と書かれています。
彼女は彼に愛の___をした。
The sentence means 'She made a confession of love to him.' '告白' (kokuhaku) means 'confession' or 'acknowledgment,' which fits the context of revealing personal feelings of love.
自分の過ちを___することは、成長のために重要だ。
The sentence means 'Confessing one's mistakes is important for growth.' '告白' (kokuhaku) can also mean 'acknowledgment' of a truth, even an unpleasant one, which fits acknowledging mistakes.
彼は警察に事件の真相を___した。
The sentence means 'He confessed the truth of the incident to the police.' '告白' (kokuhaku) in this context implies revealing the truth of a situation or event.
友人との秘密の___は、私たちの絆を深めた。
The sentence means 'A secret confession with a friend deepened our bond.' Here, '告白' (kokuhaku) refers to sharing personal, often hidden, feelings or information.
勇気を出して、ずっと言えなかった気持ちを___した。
The sentence means 'I bravely confessed feelings I couldn't express for a long time.' '告白' (kokuhaku) is used when revealing deep-seated or unspoken emotions.
彼女は自分の過去について率直な___をした。
The sentence means 'She made a frank confession about her past.' '告白' (kokuhaku) is appropriate when someone is revealing personal history or facts openly.
This sentence means 'I was surprised by his confession.' The particles の and には connect 'his' to 'confession' and 'confession' to 'was surprised' respectively.
This sentence means 'She bravely confessed.' 勇気を出して (yuuki o dashite) means 'to gather courage' or 'bravely'.
This sentence means 'I didn't think that confession was true.' だとは (da to wa) indicates what was not thought to be true.
彼女は彼に愛の___をした。
Context: 'She made a confession of love to him.' '告白' (kokuhaku) means confession, fitting the romantic context.
警察は容疑者に犯行の___を迫った。
Context: 'The police pressed the suspect for a confession of the crime.' '告白' can also mean acknowledgment of guilt.
彼は自分の過去の過ちを___するのに勇気がいった。
Context: 'It took courage for him to confess his past mistakes.' Here, '告白' refers to acknowledging and revealing personal wrongdoing.
彼女は友達に秘密を___して、やっと心が軽くなった。
Context: 'She finally felt relieved after confessing her secret to her friend.' '告白' is used for revealing personal secrets.
彼の病気に対する正直な___は、多くの人々に感動を与えた。
Context: 'His honest confession about his illness moved many people.' This use of '告白' means a candid disclosure of one's condition.
彼はその研究の不正行為を___することを決めた。
Context: 'He decided to confess the misconduct in that research.' '告白' here implies admitting to wrongdoing.
What did someone do yesterday?
How was her confession?
What did he do with courage?
Read this aloud:
友人に秘密を告白する
Focus: こくはく (kokuhaku)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
愛の告白をするのは勇気がいる。
Focus: こくはく (kokuhaku), ゆうき (yuuki)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
彼はついに真実を告白した。
Focus: ついに (tsuini), しんじつ (shinjitsu)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'He mustered up the courage and confessed to her.' The order follows a typical Japanese sentence structure: Subject (彼), Object with particle (彼女に), then the action phrase (勇気を 出して 告白した).
This translates to 'I was surprised by his sudden confession.' The possessive '彼の' comes first, followed by the adjective '突然の' modifying '告白に', and finally the verb '驚いた'.
This means 'The time has come to confess the truth.' The object '真実を' precedes the verb '告白する', which modifies '時が', and '来た' is the main verb.
/ 60 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
告白 (kokuhaku) means confession, especially in a romantic sense, or revealing personal feelings.
- b1
- b2
- b3
相关内容
更多emotions词汇
ぼんやり
B1Vaguely; absentmindedly; dimly.
夢中
B1Absorption; engrossment; infatuation.
受け止める
B1To accept; to take; to grasp.
達成感
B1Sense of accomplishment.
ひしひしと
B1Acutely; keenly; strongly (feeling something).
適応する
B1To adapt; to adjust.
健気な
B2Brave, admirable, or plucky (especially of a weaker person).
感心な
B1Admirable; deserving admiration.
感心
B1Admiration, impression, or being impressed.
感心する
B1To be impressed; to admire.
