付き合います（つきあいます、tsukiaimasu）
- to associate with

The Japanese verb 付き合います (読み方: つきあいます, romanization: tsukiaimasu) has several meanings, all related to the idea of "being with" or "associating with" someone or something. It’s a versatile word used in various contexts. Its core meaning revolves around the concept of companionship, relationship, or enduring something.

⚫︎彼と付き合っています。 ・Translation: I am dating him. ⚫︎友達と映画を見に付き合ってくれませんか。 ・Translation: Would you accompany me to see a movie with my friends? ⚫︎あの会社と取引を付き合っています。 ・Translation: I am doing business with that company.

This word is used in a range of situations. ⚫︎To express a romantic relationship, similar to "dating." ⚫︎To indicate accompanying someone to an event or activity. ⚫︎To describe maintaining a professional or personal association with someone or a company. ⚫︎ The verb can be used in both formal and informal situations, though the level of politeness can be adjusted through the use of different verb forms. For example: ⚫︎ 付き合います - formal ⚫︎ 付き合う - plain form (casual) ⚫︎ 付き合って - te-form (used to connect clauses) ⚫︎ 付き合って - te-form of [付き合う] (casual, but versatile)

付き合います is typically written in hiragana and kanji: 付き合います. ⚫︎ The kanji 付 means "to attach" or "to adhere." ⚫︎ The kanji 合い represents "together" or "mutual." ⚫︎ The okurigana is き, and the verb stem is 付き合. Variations include conjugations like 付き合います (formal present), 付き合う (plain form), 付き合って (te-form), 付き合った (past tense), etc.

⚫︎ 交際します (こうさいします): This is a more formal way of saying "to date" or "to have a relationship." ⚫︎ デートします (deeto shimasu): "To go on a date." (loanword) ⚫︎ 一緒にいます (いっしょにいます): "To be together with." (more general) ⚫︎ 仲良くします (なかよくします): "To get along well" or "to be friendly with." ⚫︎ Depending on the context, other verbs like 協力します (きょうりょくします, "to cooperate") or 交流します (こうりゅうします, "to interact") can be used. ⚫︎ 関係があります (かんけいがあります): “To have a relationship”

⚫︎ There isn't a direct antonym for 付き合います that covers all of its meanings. However, words like "break up," "separate," or "end a relationship" would be the opposites in a romantic context. ⚫︎ In other contexts, it would depend on the specific meaning, such as the opposite of "not participating," or "ending a business relationship."

彼女と付き合って一年になります。 ・Translation: I have been dating her for a year. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 付き合って to express the duration of a romantic relationship. The verb is in the te-form followed by います to create a state of being.

新しいプロジェクトに付き合いませんか。 ・Translation: Won't you join (me) for a new project? ・Explanation: This sentence uses the plain form 付き合い, making the invitation casual. It's similar to inviting someone to participate or cooperate.

The verb 付き合う combines the verb 付く(tsuku, "to attach") and the auxiliary verb 合う(au, "to fit," "to match," "to suit," "to get along"). The literal meaning of 付き合う would be something like "to attach/relate with each other." It evolved to encompass the various meanings discussed above, including relationships and associations.