不倫（ふりん、furin）
- adultery

The Japanese word 不倫 不倫, pronounced ふりん, directly translates to "adultery," "infidelity," or "an illicit affair." It refers to a romantic or sexual relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse. It carries a strong negative connotation in Japanese society and is often viewed as a breach of trust and a violation of social norms. The term encompasses a wide range of behaviors, from emotional affairs to full-blown sexual relationships. The core idea is that the relationship violates the commitment of marriage.

⚫︎ 彼は奥さんと《不倫 不倫 していることがばれました。》 Translation: He was caught having an affair with someone other than his wife. ⚫︎ 彼女は《不倫 不倫 が原因で離婚しました。》 Translation: She got divorced because of the affair. ⚫︎ そのニュースは《不倫 不倫 に関するスキャンダルでした。》 Translation: That news was a scandal about an affair.

You use 不倫 不倫 in situations where you are discussing or referring to extramarital affairs or relationships outside of marriage. ⚫︎ It is appropriate to use it when talking about someone else's infidelity, or when discussing a story or scandal involving infidelity. ⚫︎ Avoid using 不倫 不倫 in situations that are not related to extramarital affairs.

不倫 不倫 is written using the kanji 不 (fu - meaning "not" or "non-") and 倫 (rin - meaning "ethics," "morality," or "relationship"). It is commonly written in kanji, but you might see it in hiragana ふりん, especially in less formal contexts or for learners. The okurigana (suffix hiragana) is standard and doesn't have variations.

⚫︎ 浮気 (uwaki) - This is a more general term for "cheating" or "infidelity," and can include both emotional and physical affairs. ⚫︎ 不貞行為 (futei koui) - This is a more legalistic term for "adultery" or "infidelity." ⚫︎ 密通 (mitchuu) - An older term for "adultery".

There is no direct antonym, but concepts that represent the opposite would be faithfulness or marital fidelity. Examples include: ⚫︎ 貞操 (teiso) - virginity, chastity ⚫︎ 忠実 (chuujitsu) - loyalty, fidelity.

彼は長年《不倫 不倫 を続けていたことが発覚し、社会的に大きな非難を浴びた。》 ・Translation: It was revealed that he had been having an affair for many years, and he received significant public criticism. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 不倫 不倫 to describe a long-term affair and its consequences.

その女優は《不倫 不倫 スキャンダルのせいで、多くのCM契約を失った。》 ・Translation: That actress lost many commercial contracts due to the affair scandal. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the negative consequences associated with 不倫 不倫 in the context of celebrity scandals.

The kanji 不 means "not" or "non-" and the kanji 倫 means "ethics," "morality," or "relationship." Thus, 不倫 不倫 literally translates to "non-ethical relationship" or a relationship that goes against moral principles, reflecting the social condemnation of extramarital affairs. The word's construction clearly indicates a negative judgment of such relationships, viewing them as morally wrong.