バレンタイン

ばれんたいん
noun
Valentine's Day
leisure
1. Valentine's Day
February 14th, celebrated in Japan primarily by women giving chocolate to men. Short for バレンタインデー.
バレンタインにチョコをもらった。
I received chocolate on Valentine's Day.
バレンタインの時期(じき)はチョコ売(う)り場(ば)が混(こ)む。
The chocolate section gets crowded around Valentine's Day.
今年(ことし)のバレンタインは手作(てづく)りチョコに挑戦(ちょうせん)してみた。
This year I tried making handmade chocolate for Valentine's Day.

Cultural note

Japanese Valentine's Day differs from Western customs. Traditionally, women give chocolate to men. There are several types:

  • 本命(ほんめい)チョコ: chocolate for someone you have romantic feelings for
  • 義理(ぎり)チョコ: obligatory chocolate for male coworkers, friends, etc.
  • 友(とも)チョコ: chocolate exchanged between female friends

Men return the favor on ホワイトデー (三月(さんがつ)十四日(じゅうよっか), March 14th).

Common collocations

  • バレンタインデー: Valentine's Day (full form)
  • バレンタインチョコ: Valentine's chocolate
  • 手作(てづく)りバレンタイン: handmade Valentine's chocolate
general
Added 2026.2.15 19:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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