媒酌人(ばいしゃくにん)

ばいしゃくにん
noun
matchmaker; go-between (at a wedding)
formalperson
1. matchmaker; go-between; wedding sponsor
A person who acts as an intermediary in arranging a marriage, and who traditionally serves as a ceremonial sponsor at the wedding. In traditional Japanese weddings, the matchmaker couple sits in a place of honor and assists throughout the ceremony.
媒酌人(ばいしゃくにん)を頼(たの)む。
To ask someone to be the matchmaker.
上司(じょうし)に媒酌人(ばいしゃくにん)をお願(ねが)いした。
We asked our boss to serve as the go-between.
最近(さいきん)は媒酌人(ばいしゃくにん)を立(た)てない結婚式(けっこんしき)が増(ふ)えている。
Recently, weddings without a go-between have become more common.

Composed of 媒酌(ばいしゃく) (mediation; matchmaking) and 人(にん) (person). The 媒酌人(ばいしゃくにん) traditionally plays two roles: arranging the match (見合(みあ)い) and presiding over the wedding ceremony as a respected sponsor.

Common collocations

Cultural note

The role of 媒酌人(ばいしゃくにん) has declined significantly in modern Japan. In the past, most marriages were 見合(みあ)い (arranged), and a 媒酌人(ばいしゃくにん) was essential. Even as love marriages (恋愛(れんあい)結婚(けっこん)) became the norm, couples sometimes asked a senior figure to serve as ceremonial 媒酌人(ばいしゃくにん). Today, many weddings omit this role entirely.

Similar words

  • 仲人(なこうど): matchmaker; go-between — largely synonymous, but 仲人(なこうど) is the more common everyday term
  • 世話役(せわやく): coordinator; organizer — broader term for someone who helps arrange things, not limited to weddings

Related Words

Compare: 仲人(なこうど) (matchmaker)
general
Added 2026.4.30 22:42 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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