交際相手(こうさいあいて)

こうさいあいて
noun
boyfriend; girlfriend; romantic partner
1. boyfriend; girlfriend; romantic partner
The person one is in a romantic relationship with. A neutral, somewhat formal term that does not specify gender.
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)がいるかどうか聞(き)かれた。
I was asked whether I have a boyfriend/girlfriend.
彼(かれ)は長年(ながねん)の交際相手(こうさいあいて)と結婚(けっこん)することを発表(はっぴょう)した。
He announced that he would marry his long-time partner.

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
general
Added 2026.4.7 23:12
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