Japanese word

浮気

Pronunciation

Romajiuwaki

Meaning

  • nouncheating

Example

彼は浮気をしません。kare wa uwaki o shi ma se n

He does not cheat.

Illustration for 浮気 (cheating)

More examples

彼女は夫の浮気に気づきました。kano jo wa otto no uwaki ni ki zu ki ma shi ta

She noticed her husband's cheating.

Core concept

Describes breaking an expected romantic commitment by secretly giving romantic attention to someone else.

Common phrases

  • 浮気をするuwaki o su ru

    cheat

  • 浮気がばれるuwaki ga ba re ru

    cheating is discovered

  • 浮気を疑うuwaki o utaga u

    suspect cheating

Similar words

不倫furin: A romantic relationship with someone other than a spouse or committed partner.
二股futamata: Romantic involvement with two people at the same time.
不貞futei: Unfaithfulness to a spouse or committed partner.

Definition in Japanese

恋人や配偶者がいるのに、別の相手と恋愛関係を持つこと。koi bito ya hai gū sha ga i ru no ni betsu no ai te to ren ai kan kei o mo tsu ko to

Word origin

The Japanese noun 浮気 (uwaki, "cheating") comes from the native expression 浮き気 (ukike, "an unsettled mind"), linking 浮く (uku, "to float") with 気 (ki, "mind").

Usage tips

  • English cheat can refer to breaking rules in a test or game, whereas 浮気 (uwaki, "cheating") specifically concerns unfaithfulness in a romantic relationship.

Other meanings

  • affairnoun
  • fooling aroundnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 浮気性uwakiseiunfaithfulna-adjective
  • 浮気者uwakimonocheaternoun

Word lists with this word