Meaning
The kanji 婚 primarily means marriage or wedding, and by extension, refers to the act of marrying or being married. It is an essential character for discussing personal relationships and family structures in Japanese society.
Its origin is rooted in a fascinating semantic-phonetic compound. The left-hand side, the radical 女, literally means 'woman' or 'female'. This component directly signifies the involvement of a woman in marriage, reflecting the traditional role of the bride. The right-hand side, 昏, serves as both the phonetic component, providing the 'kon' reading, and offers a subtle semantic hint. 昏 means 'dusk' or 'darkness'.
Historically, in many ancient cultures, including Japan, wedding ceremonies or the taking of the bride to her new home often occurred at dusk or after sunset. This practice could have stemmed from various reasons. For instance, it might have signified a new beginning under the cover of night, or simply served practical purposes in agricultural societies.
Therefore, the visual shape of 婚 aptly encapsulates its meaning: a woman (女) being united in marriage, reminiscent of ancient traditions often associated with dusk (昏). Understanding this etymology deepens one's appreciation for how the kanji was formed and how its meaning connects to cultural history. The kanji 婚 has 11 strokes. It is designated as a Grade 8 kanji within the Japanese education system, meaning it is taught in junior high school, and is also a Jōyō Kanji (common-use kanji).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi (Chinese-derived reading) for 婚 is コン (kon). This reading is primarily used in compound words, which is typical for many kanji, particularly those forming abstract nouns. It rarely appears as a standalone word.
When used with the reading コン, 婚 almost always relates to marriage, engagement, or related marital status.
結婚 (kekkon) — This is perhaps the most common word using 婚. It means 'marriage' or 'wedding'. For example, 彼は来年結婚します。(He is getting married next year.)
婚約 (konyaku) — This compound refers to 'engagement'. It describes the formal agreement to marry someone. For instance, 彼らは婚約しました。(They got engaged.)
新婚 (shinkon) — Meaning 'newlywed'. This term is used to describe a couple who have recently married. A common phrase is 新婚旅行 (shinkon ryokō), which means 'honeymoon'.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kanji 婚 does not have any commonly recognized native Japanese (kun'yomi) readings when used by itself. While some historical or specialized dictionaries might list obscure readings, in practical modern Japanese, 婚 is almost exclusively found as a component in on'yomi compounds. This is quite common for kanji that primarily form abstract nouns or concepts when combined with other kanji, rather than representing specific verbs or adjectives. Words that express the act of marrying using native Japanese verbs, such as 嫁ぐ (totsugu - to marry, for a woman) or 娶る (metoru - to marry, to take a wife), use different kanji altogether. Therefore, when you encounter 婚, always anticipate its on'yomi reading of コン.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 婚 frequently appears as a component in Japanese vocabulary, forming many words related to marriage, marital status, and associated activities. Here are some of the most common and useful compounds, grouped by theme:
General Marriage & Status:
結婚 (kekkon) — marriage, wedding
婚姻 (kon'in) — marriage (often in a legal or formal context)
未婚 (mikon) — unmarried
既婚 (kikon) — married (status)
Engagement & Preparations:
婚約 (konyaku) — engagement
婚約者 (konyakusha) — fiancé(e), engaged person
婚活 (konkatsu) — spouse hunting, activities for finding a marriage partner (a portmanteau of 結婚 and 活動 - activity)
結納 (yuinō) — engagement ceremony (exchange of betrothal gifts)
Types of Marriage & Related Concepts:
再婚 (saikon) — remarriage
国際結婚 (kokusai kekkon) — international marriage
晩婚 (bankon) — late marriage
婚外子 (kongaiji) — child born out of wedlock
Married Life & Timing:
新婚旅行 (shinkon ryokō) — honeymoon
婚期 (konki) — marriageable age, the time suitable for marriage
結婚式 (kekkonshiki) — wedding ceremony
Example Sentences
来年、彼と私は結婚する予定です。
Rainen, kare to watashi wa kekkon suru yotei desu.
Next year, he and I are planning to get married.
彼女はまだ未婚ですが、素敵な出会いを探しています。
Kanojo wa mada mikon desu ga, suteki na deai o sagashiteimasu.
She is still unmarried, but she is looking for a wonderful encounter.
友人の婚約パーティーで二人を祝福しました。
Yūjin no konyaku pātī de futari o shukufuku shimashita.
I congratulated the couple at my friend's engagement party.
最近は国際結婚をするカップルが増えています。
Saikin wa kokusai kekkon o suru kappuru ga fueteimasu.
Recently, the number of couples entering international marriages is increasing.
彼は一生懸命、婚活をして結婚相手を探しています。
Kare wa isshōkenmei, konkatsu o shite kekkon aite o sagashiteimasu.
He is earnestly engaging in spouse hunting to find a marriage partner.
彼らの結婚記念日は毎年、家族で盛大に祝われます。
Karera no kekkon kinenbi wa mainen, kazoku de seidai ni iwawaremasu.
Their wedding anniversary is celebrated grandly by the family every year.
再婚してから、彼女はとても幸せそうです。
Saikon shite kara, kanojo wa totemo shiawasesō desu.
Since remarrying, she looks very happy.
昔は、女性の婚期は20代と考えられていました。
Mukashi wa, josei no konki wa nijūdai to kangaerarete imashita.
In the past, a woman's marriageable age was considered to be in her twenties.
新婚旅行でハワイへ行くのが夢でした。
Shinkon ryokō de Hawai e iku no ga yume deshita.
It was my dream to go to Hawaii for our honeymoon.
法律上の婚姻を届出ることで正式な夫婦になります。
Hōritsujō no kon'in o todokederu koto de seishiki na fūfu ni narimasu.
By registering a legal marriage, one becomes a formal husband and wife.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 婚, think about its two components: 女 (woman) and 昏 (dusk, dark). Here's a simple mnemonic story: "A woman (女) traditionally gets married and enters her new family at dusk (昏)." The 'dusk' component not only offers a visual image but also provides the on'yomi 'kon'. Picture a bride, a woman, arriving at her new home as the sun sets, symbolizing the beginning of her married life. This strong connection between the female figure, the time of day, and the sound makes the kanji's meaning and reading particularly memorable.