彼氏(かれし)

Etymology: 彼(かれ) (he) + 氏(し) (honorific suffix). The 氏(し) suffix adds a slight formal/distancing nuance, but the word itself is casual.

Similar words

• 彼氏(かれし) ↔ 彼女(かのじょ) (boyfriend ↔ girlfriend)
• Both are standard casual terms for romantic partners

FORMAL/OTHER expressions

• 恋人(こいびと) (lover, sweetheart - gender-neutral, slightly formal)
• パートナー (partner - modern, gender-neutral)
• お付(つ)き合(あ)いしている人(ひと) (person I'm dating - polite)
• 交際(こうさい)相手(あいて) (dating partner - formal)

Common collocations

• 彼氏(かれし)ができる (to get a boyfriend)
• 彼氏(かれし)と別(わか)れる (to break up with one's boyfriend)
• 彼氏(かれし)と付(つ)き合(あ)う (to date one's boyfriend)
• 彼氏(かれし)がいる (to have a boyfriend)
• 彼氏(かれし)を紹介(しょうかい)する (to introduce one's boyfriend)

Usage

彼氏(かれし) is the most common casual term for "boyfriend" in everyday conversation. The term 彼(かれ) alone can also mean "boyfriend" in context, often used when the relationship is already understood.