{"id":62703,"date":"2019-01-29T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T03:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/how-to-break-up-in-japanese-breaking-up-japanese-relationship\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T14:57:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T05:57:02","slug":"how-to-break-up-in-japanese-breaking-up-japanese-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/ja\/how-to-break-up-in-japanese-breaking-up-japanese-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"Break up in Japanese: Simple phrases for a difficult subject"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hello there. You opening this post must mean that you\u2019re dealing with some kind of relationship issue that you just couldn\u2019t handle on your own. As sad as it is, say the break up in Japanese can make things a bit easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing to remember is that to break up with somebody special is never easy, regardless of the language they speak. This applies to any relationship but especially in Japan, remember to keep things sweet, short, and clear to your point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you may sense from studying the Japanese language, it\u2019s always better to say things in an indirect way; a Japanese novelist Sosuke Natsume famously translated \u201cI love you\u201d in English to <\/a>\u6708\uff08\u3064\u304d\uff09\u304c\u304d\u308c\u3044\u3067\u3059\u306d<\/a> which directly translates to \u201cThe moon looks beautiful today\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In English, it makes little to no sense at all, but in Japanese, that level of euphemism and subtlety is important to be a truly fluent speaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But regardless of how you say things or what you say, PLEASE meet in person (or over FaceTime if you\u2019re in different places, whichever way that\u2019s face-to-face) when ending a relationship with someone; this is 2019, we aren\u2019t cavemen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Relationships in Japan<\/a>
Phrases to use when Breaking Up<\/a>
In Dialogue<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relationships in Japan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Relationships in Japan, whether it be romantic, friendly, or professional, can be said to be based on a mutual understanding and respect that often go unsaid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the term \u6697\u9ed9\u306e\u4e86\u89e3 (Annmoku-no-Ryokai <\/em>Unspoken understanding) shows, there are many things you need to \u201cget\u201d from the subtle exchange of words or body language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few years ago, the term \u201cKY\u201d became a trend; KY, which stands for \u7a7a\u6c17\u304c\u8aad\u3081\u306a\u3044 Kuuki (ga) Yomenai<\/em><\/a>, which made fun of people who aren\u2019t capable of reading between the lines, or literally are unable to read \u201cthe air\u201d of social interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, when deciding to end a relationship with someone in Japanese, it is important to understand the subtle signs your (ex-) significant other shows, and maybe even show some signs of unhappiness prior to letting them know of wanting to break up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These signs you can show really depend on each relationship, but for example, you can show that you are less eager to meet up with them or be less responsive to texts or calls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In any case, the Japanese idiom \u89aa\u3057\u304d\u4ef2\u306b\u3082\u793c\u5100<\/a>\u3042\u308a Shitashiki-nakanimo-reigi<\/a>-ari<\/em> is always a good rule to have in mind; by definition, regardless of how close you are to two people, it is important to stay polite and respectful even as you break up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phrases to use when Breaking Up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What are some words or phrases you could use to end a relationship with somebody in Japanese? We\u2019ll divide it according to some general reasons why you are suggesting breaking up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n