内縁(ないえん)

ないえん
noun
common-law marriage; de facto marriage
1. common-law marriage; de facto marriage; unmarried cohabitation
A relationship in which a couple lives together as married partners without being legally registered as married.
二人(ふたり)は内縁(ないえん)関係(かんけい)にある。
The two are in a common-law relationship.
内縁(ないえん)の妻(つま)にも一定(いってい)の法的(ほうてき)権利(けんり)がある。
A common-law wife also has certain legal rights.
内縁(ないえん)関係(かんけい)を解消(かいしょう)する場合(ばあい)でも、財産(ざいさん)分与(ぶんよ)が認(みと)められることがある。
Even when dissolving a common-law relationship, division of property may be recognized.

内(ない) (inside, private) + 縁(えん) (bond, relation). Refers to a marital-like relationship without formal registration at the municipal office. In Japan, marriage requires submitting a 婚姻届(こんいんとどけ) (marriage registration) to be legally recognized, so couples who live together without doing so are considered 内縁(ないえん).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 内縁(ないえん)関係(かんけい) — common-law relationship
  • 内縁(ないえん)の妻(つま) — common-law wife
  • 内縁(ないえん)の夫(おっと) — common-law husband
  • 内縁(ないえん)関係(かんけい)を解消(かいしょう)する — dissolve a common-law relationship

LEGAL NOTE:
Japanese courts recognize certain rights for 内縁(ないえん) partners, including some property rights and rights to damages if the relationship is broken without just cause. However, 内縁(ないえん) partners do not have inheritance rights unless specified by will.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 事実婚(じじつこん) — de facto marriage — a more modern and neutral term
  • 同棲(どうせい) — cohabitation; living together — does not imply a marriage-like commitment

Related Words

Synonym: 事実婚(じじつこん) (common usage term)
general
Added 2026.4.27 1:31 · Revised 2026.5.7 14:07
25500/25710_naien