パートナー

Usage

パートナー covers both romantic and business partnerships. In recent years, it has become the preferred gender-neutral term for referring to a romantic partner, especially in discussions about diverse relationships. パートナーシップ制度(せいど) refers to same-sex partnership registration systems adopted by some Japanese municipalities.

Common collocations

• ビジネスパートナー: business partner
• 人生(じんせい)のパートナー: life partner
• パートナーシップ: partnership
• パートナーシップ制度(せいど): partnership registration system
• パートナーを見(み)つける: to find a partner

Similar words

相棒(あいぼう) (partner/buddy) is informal and often used for work or crime-solving partnerships. 連(つ)れ合(あ)い (spouse) is a traditional term for a married partner.