情事(じょうじ)

じょうじ
noun
love affair; amorous affair; liaison
formalsociety
1. love affair; amorous affair; sexual relationship (often illicit)
A romantic or sexual relationship, especially one that is secret, forbidden, or outside of a committed partnership. The word carries a literary or sophisticated tone and often implies a relationship that is morally complex.
秘密(ひみつ)の情事(じょうじ)が発覚(はっかく)した。
The secret affair was discovered.
その小説(しょうせつ)は二人(ふたり)の情事(じょうじ)を描(えが)いている。
The novel depicts the love affair between two people.
政治家(せいじか)の情事(じょうじ)がスキャンダルとなり、辞任(じにん)に追(お)い込(こ)まれた。
The politician's affair became a scandal, forcing a resignation.

Combines 情(じょう) (emotion, passion, love) and 事(じ) (matter, affair). A literary word that suggests passion, secrecy, and often a transgressive quality.

Common collocations

Usage

Primarily appears in literary, journalistic, and dramatic contexts. The word has a somewhat elevated register — it would be used in novels, films, and news reports about scandals, rather than in casual conversation. It implies both emotional and physical involvement, and often carries an undertone of secrecy or social taboo.

Similar words

  • 浮気(うわき): cheating, infidelity — more colloquial, clearly implies betrayal of a partner
  • 不倫(ふりん): extramarital affair — specifically between a married person and someone outside the marriage; a common news/gossip term
  • 恋愛(れんあい): romance, love — neutral and broad, without the illicit connotation

Related Words

Compare: 浮気(うわき) (cheating, infidelity)
Compare: 不倫(ふりん) (extramarital affair)
Compare: 恋愛(れんあい) (romance, love)
general
Added 2026.4.18 23:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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