結婚
けっこん
kekkon
= marriage; wedding
結婚 (kekkon) is the word Japanese speakers use for marriage in every context — from casual announcements among friends to formal family ceremonies. Unlike English, which separates ‘marriage’ (the institution) from ‘getting married’ (the act), 結婚 covers both when paired with する.
結婚 functions as a noun meaning ‘marriage’ and becomes a verb when combined with する: 結婚する means ‘to get married.’ The phrase 結婚しています (kekkon shite imasu) describes the ongoing state of being married, while 結婚しました (kekkon shimashita) announces the completed act. In formal writing you may see 婚姻 (kon’in) as a legal synonym, but 結婚 is overwhelmingly preferred in everyday speech and official announcements alike. The derived noun 結婚式 (kekkon-shiki) specifically refers to a wedding ceremony, and 結婚指輪 (kekkon yubiwa) means ‘wedding ring.’
Two common mistakes: first, saying 結婚する with the wrong tense when describing your current status — use 結婚しています, not 結婚します, to say you are married (結婚します means you are about to or plan to get married). Second, confusing 結婚式 (wedding ceremony) with 披露宴 (hiroen, wedding reception) — in Japan these are often separate events with different guest lists and formality levels. The proposal phrase 結婚してください (kekkon shite kudasai, ‘please marry me’) is politely direct; the softer 結婚してほしい (kekkon shite hoshii) expresses a wish rather than a request.
結 (ketsu/musubu) means ‘to tie’ or ‘to bind’ — its radical 糸 (ito, thread) evokes the image of threads being knotted together. 婚 (kon) means ‘marriage’ and contains 女 (woman) alongside 昏 (dusk), historically referencing the ancient custom of conducting wedding ceremonies at twilight. Together, 結婚 literally pictures two lives being bound at dusk — a poetic image embedded in an everyday word.
Everyday use
彼女は来月、幼なじみと結婚する。
Kanojo wa raigetsu, osananajimi to kekkon suru.
She is getting married to her childhood friend next month.
Casual / Social Media
結婚しました！ふたりで新生活をスタートします。
Kekkon shimashita! Futari de shinseikatsu wo sutaato shimasu.
We got married! We’re starting our new life together.
Formal / Cultural context
ご結婚おめでとうございます。末永くお幸せに。
Go-kekkon omedetou gozaimasu. Suenagaku o-shiawase ni.
Congratulations on your marriage. May you have lasting happiness.
Japan’s 婚活 (konkatsu) culture gives 結婚 a distinctly modern dimension. Short for 結婚活動 (kekkon katsudou, marriage-hunting activities), konkatsu describes the structured effort many Japanese singles put into finding a spouse — through matchmaking parties called 合コン (gokon), professionally run お見合いパーティー (omiai parties), and dedicated dating apps. The term entered mainstream use in the late 2000s and reflects how seriously marriage is still treated as a life milestone requiring deliberate pursuit.
Japan’s average age at first marriage has risen steadily, a trend called 晩婚化 (bankonka, late-marriage trend). As of the mid-2020s, the average age hovers around 31 for men and 29 for women — roughly five years older than figures from the 1970s. Researchers link 晩婚化 to rising living costs, longer career timelines, and shifting attitudes among younger generations who prioritize personal fulfillment before committing. This backdrop means that when someone announces 結婚しました in their early twenties, it often draws genuine surprise from peers.