Japanese word

独身

Pronunciation

Romajidokushin

Meaning

  • nounsingle

Example

私は独身です。watashi wa doku shin de su

I am single.

Illustration for 独身 (single)

More examples

彼は独身のまま、海外で働いています。kare wa doku shin no ma ma kai gai de hatara i te i ma su

He is working abroad while still single.

Core concept

Centers on a person living without a spouse, or the state of having no spouse.

Common phrases

  • 独身でいるdoku shin de i ru

    stay single

  • 独身のままdoku shin no ma ma

    remain single

Similar words

未婚mikon: A person who has not married, especially in formal descriptions of marital status.
独り身hitorimi: A person without a spouse, with emphasis on living without a married partner.

Definition in Japanese

配偶者がいないこと。また、その人。hai gū sha ga i na i ko to ma ta so no hito

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 独身 (dokushin) combines 独 (doku, "alone") and 身 (shin, "body; oneself"), expressing the idea of being alone as a person.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 独身 (dokushin) can describe a person's current marital status without explaining whether the person has never married or is no longer married.

Opposites

Related words

  • 独身者dokushinshasingle personnoun

Word lists with this word