The Meaning of kōsai [交際] In Japanese

交際
こうさい
Romaji: kōsai N3

What does 交際 mean?

Translation and Meaning

association, relationship, dating

Definition

What does 交際 mean? It refers to being socially connected or in a relationship with someone, including dating, romantic involvement, or regular social interactions within a circle. In everyday Japanese, it covers romantic courtship as well as companionship or association with others.

Type

noun, suru-verb

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Romantic dating or a romantic relationship between two adults; often used in formal or neutral contexts rather than casual speech.
  • General socializing, companionship, and maintaining relations within a circle of friends or colleagues; emphasizes ongoing interaction rather than a one-off date.
  • Affiliations or connections with organizations, groups, or other entities; used in more formal or journalistic language to denote associations or links.

Composition

  • 交: to intersect or mix; in kanji compounds, the on-reading is こう (kō), conveying interaction or exchange
  • 際: occasion or juncture; on-reading さい (sai); together they imply an occasion for interaction, forming a social connection
  • When combined as 交際, the characters express a relationship formed through social interaction at a moment or occasion

Usage

Used in formal or neutral contexts to denote dating or social relations; paired with する to form 交際する, or with 交際中 to express being in a relationship. In casual speech, people prefer 付き合う for dating and relationship talk; 交際 is common in writing, news, and official communication to describe interpersonal relations or affiliations without slang.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture two people crossing paths at an occasion (交 at the crossroads, 際 as the moment) to form a bond; think of crossing paths to form a relationship.

Variations

  • 付き合い (つきあい, tsukiai) — casual dating or socializing
  • 親交 (しんこう, shinkō) — cordial friendship or close association, more formal
  • 関係 (かんけい, kankei) — relationship or connection, broader
  • 交流 (こうりゅう, kōryū) — exchange, interaction within a group

Example Phrases

  • 友人 は 彼女 と 交際 を 始める 計画 を 話した。
    Yūjin wa kanojo to kōsai o hajimeru keikaku o hanashita.
    A friend talked about plans to start dating his girlfriend.
    Lista:
    • 友人 (yūjin) – friend
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 彼女 (kanojo) – girlfriend
    • と (to) – with
    • 交際 (kōsai) – dating / relationship
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 始める (hajimeru) – to start
    • 計画 (keikaku) – plan
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 話した (hanashita) – spoke
    The noun 「交際」 means dating/romantic relationship; here it is the object of 始める (to start), marked by を. This shows 「交際を始める」 meaning “to start a relationship.”
交際