交際|こうさいkousai[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbcompany; friendship; association; society; acquaintance
  2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verb(romantic) involvement; dating
    その男おとこは妻つまと交際こうさいし始はじめた。↗
    The man took up with his wife.
Conjugation
Dictionary form交際する(こうさいする)
Polite (masu)交際します(こうさいします)
Negative (nai)交際しない(こうさいしない)
polite (masen)交際しません(こうさいしません)
classical zu / nu交際せず・交際せぬ(こうさいせず・こうさいせぬ)
Past (ta)交際した(こうさいした)
polite (mashita)交際しました(こうさいしました)
Past negative (nakatta)交際しなかった(こうさいしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)交際しませんでした(こうさいしませんでした)
Te form交際して(こうさいして)
Potential交際できる(こうさいできる)
Passive交際される(こうさいされる)
Causative交際させる(こうさいさせる)
Causative passive交際させられる(こうさいさせられる)
Conditional (ba)交際すれば(こうさいすれば)
tara交際したら(こうさいしたら)
Volitional交際しよう(こうさいしよう)
polite (mashou)交際しましょう(こうさいしましょう)
Imperative交際しろ(こうさいしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym付き合いつきあいNeutralThe most common everyday word for socializing and dealing with people; 「交際」 is more formal and often refers to romantic dating.
  • Synonym交わりまじわりWrittenWritten word for association; can also mean sexual intercourse or intersection. In everyday speech, say 「付き合い」.
  • Synonym社交しゃこうNeutralSocializing in society or at social occasions, as in 「社交ダンス」; 「交際」 is more about personal relationships.
  • Synonym交遊こうゆうWrittenWritten word for one's social contacts and comings and goings, as in 「交遊関係」; centers on friendly ties, not romance.
  • Synonym人付き合いひとづきあいNeutralGetting along and dealing with people, as in 「人付き合いが苦手」 (not good at dealing with people); never about romance.
  • Synonym交誼こうぎWrittenRare written word for friendship and goodwill, mostly in speeches and letters; for everyday association use 「付き合い」.
  • Synonym友交ゆうこうWrittenRare written word for friendly association; in daily speech say 「付き合い」.
  • Related友好ゆうこうWrittenWritten word mostly for friendly relations between nations or organizations; 「交際」 is personal association.
  • Relatedお付き合いおつきあいCasualPolite spoken form of 「付き合い」, common in conversation; also used for dating; 「交際」 is more formal.
  • Antonym絶交ぜっこうWrittenWritten antonym: breaking off association, ending all contact with someone.
  • Antonym孤立こりつNeutralAntonym: having no ties with others, left isolated and without support.

「交際」 is the formal word for people associating or for a romantic relationship. Everyday socializing is 「付き合い」 (polite 「お付き合い」); getting along with people is 「人付き合い」; the social scene is 「社交」. The opposite is 「絶交」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 人ひとと人ひととが互たがいに付き合つきあうこと。まじわり。
  2. 恋人こいびと同士どうしが付き合つきあうこと。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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