Japanese Conversation · Level 101
60 words
Japanese word
別居
Pronunciation
Romajibekkyo
Meaning
- nounliving apart
Example
姉夫婦は別居しています。ane fū fu wa bek kyo shi te i ma su
My sister and her husband are living apart.
More examples
話し合いの結果、二人は別居することになりました。hana shi a i no kek ka futa ri wa bek kyo su ru ko to ni na ri ma shi ta
After discussing it, the two decided to live apart.
Core concept
Describes people, especially spouses, maintaining separate homes instead of living together.
Common phrases
別居するbek kyo su ru
live apart
別居を続けるbek kyo o tsuzu ke ru
continue living apart
別居を解消するbek kyo o kai shō su ru
end the separation
Definition in Japanese
夫婦などが同じ家に住まず、それぞれ別の場所で暮らすこと。fū fu na do ga ona ji ie ni su ma zu so re zo re betsu no ba sho de ku ra su ko to
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese compound 別居 (bekkyo) joins 別 (betsu, "separation") and 居 (kyo, "residence"), expressing the idea of separate living.
Usage tips
- In Japanese, 別居 (bekkyo) can describe spouses who keep separate homes without implying that their marriage has ended.
Other meanings
- separationnoun
Opposites
- 同居dōkyoliving togethernoun