結婚（けっこん、keっkon）
- marriage

The Japanese word 結婚, read as けっこん (kekkon), means "marriage" or "wedding". It refers to the legal and social union of two people, typically involving a ceremony and the establishment of a married couple. The word encompasses both the act of getting married and the state of being married. It carries the implications of a committed relationship, often for life, and the potential for starting a family. The term 結婚 can also be used to refer to the institution of marriage in general.

⚫︎ 来年結婚する予定です。 Translation: I plan to get married next year. ⚫︎ 彼女は先月結婚しました。 Translation: She got married last month. ⚫︎ 二人の結婚式はとても感動的でした。 Translation: Their wedding ceremony was very moving.

結婚 is a common and versatile word. ⚫︎ It is used to talk about the act of getting married, as well as the status of being married. ⚫︎ It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. ⚫︎ The word is often used in discussions about relationships, family, and social events.

⚫︎ The standard way to write 結婚 is with the kanji 結婚. ⚫︎ The reading is けっこん (hiragana). ⚫︎ There are no common variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎ 婚姻 (kon'in) - This is a more formal term for marriage, often used in legal contexts. ⚫︎ 嫁入り (yomeiri) - Specifically refers to a woman entering into marriage, historically implying her moving into her husband's family's home. ⚫︎ 入籍 (nyuuseki) - This refers to registering one's marriage with the government (literally, "entering the family register").

⚫︎ 離婚 (rikon) - Divorce ⚫︎ 独身 (dokushin) - Single/unmarried

田中さんは来月結婚するそうです。 ・Translation: I heard Mr. Tanaka is getting married next month. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 結婚 to state that Mr. Tanaka is going to get married in the near future.

私はいつか結婚したいと思っています。 ・Translation: I hope to get married someday. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses the speaker's desire to get married at some point in the future.

The word 結婚 is a compound word formed from two kanji: 結 (ketsu), meaning "to tie" or "to bind," and 婚 (kon), meaning "marriage". Therefore, the meaning of 結婚 is literally a "binding together" or "union through marriage."