How to say "couple" in Japanese

• 対ついCommon
  nounCovers 'couple' in the sense of a matched pair or set of things counted as one unit, such as a pair of matching items. It counts objects, not people, so it is not the word for a romantic couple.
• カップルCommon
  nounThe word for 'couple' in the romantic sense: two people in a dating or married-style relationship. When English 'couple' refers to a sweetheart pair, this is the natural choice.
  カップルは写真しゃしんのためにポーズをとった。↗

  The couple posed for the photograph.
• 二人ふたりJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounLiterally 'two people'; it covers 'couple' when simply referring to two persons together, including a couple seen as two individuals. Context determines whether a romantic reading is intended.
  二人ふたりの男おとこは刑務所けいむしょから釈放しゃくほうされた。↗

  The two men were released from jail.
• 一対いっついCommon
  no-adjectiveAlso means a matched pair or couple of things viewed as one unit, close in sense to 対. It applies to things rather than people, so for a romantic couple use カップル or 二人 instead.

Use 「カップル」 for a romantic couple, 二人 for two people together, and 対 or 一対 for a matched pair or set of things, with 一対 emphasizing the pair as a single unit.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 対ついpair
• カップルcouple
• 二人ふたりtwo persons
• 一対いっついpair
• つがいpair (esp. of mated animals)
• 偶力ぐうりょくcouple (of forces)
• 対偶たいぐうpair
• ひとつがいpair
• 両口りょうぐちboth openings
• アベック(romantic) couple
• カポー(romantic) couple