(えんだん)

えんだん
noun
marriage proposal, marriage arrangement
family
1. marriage proposal, marriage arrangement, match
A proposal or discussion regarding a potential marriage, especially one arranged through intermediaries or family connections. Refers to the proposal itself or the prospective match.
縁談(えんだん)()()まれた
A marriage proposal was brought to us.
I heard from a relative that there's a good marriage prospect.
My daughter has turned down numerous marriage proposals and insists on finding a partner on her own.

Cultural note

Traditionally, marriages in Japan were often arranged through intermediaries (仲人(なこうど)), and 縁談(えんだん) was the proposal or match brought by such go-betweens. While arranged marriages have become less common in modern Japan, the word is still used and understood, appearing in period dramas, novels, and when families still facilitate introductions.

Common collocations