交際相手(こうさいあいて)

A compound of 交際(こうさい) ('association, dating') and 相手(あいて) ('partner, counterpart'). This is a gender-neutral, relatively formal way to refer to a romantic partner. Common in news reports, formal conversations, and when one wants to avoid casual terms.

Common collocations

• 交際相手(こうさいあいて)を紹介(しょうかい)する: to introduce one's partner
• 交際相手(こうさいあいて)がいる: to have a partner
• 交際相手(こうさいあいて)と別(わか)れる: to break up with one's partner

Similar words

• 彼氏(かれし): boyfriend — casual, gender-specific
• 彼女(かのじょ): girlfriend — casual, gender-specific
• 恋人(こいびと): lover, sweetheart — romantic but gender-neutral, slightly more literary
• パートナー: partner — loanword, increasingly used for all types of partnerships