Translation guide
The English word 'dating' covers a range of romantic social activities, from casual going out to serious relationships. Japanese expresses these through different verbs and nouns depending on the stage and seriousness.
To say that two people are dating or in a relationship.
The most common and natural way to say two people are dating or in a relationship. It implies an ongoing, exclusive relationship.
彼と付き合っています。
I'm dating him.
Are those two dating?
A more formal noun meaning 'association' or 'dating'. Often used in official contexts or when talking about dating with a view to marriage.
交際を申し込む
to ask someone to go out with you (formal)
交際期間はどのくらいですか？
How long have you been dating? (formal)
Polite version of 付き合い, used when speaking respectfully about someone's relationship or when referring to one's own relationship in a humble way.
お付き合いしている方はいらっしゃいますか？
Are you seeing anyone? (polite)
To talk about going out on a date as an activity or event.
The loanword for 'date'. Used for a planned romantic outing. Can be a noun or combined with する to make a verb.
週末にデートする。
I'm going on a date this weekend.
初デートはどこに行った？
Where did you go on your first date?
Literally 'go on a date'. Emphasizes the act of going out.
明日、彼女とデートに行きます。
I'm going on a date with my girlfriend tomorrow.
To describe a situation where you are going on dates but not yet in a committed relationship.
Using デートする in the progressive form can imply going on dates with someone, possibly not exclusive. Context clarifies.
最近、何人かとデートしてるんだ。
I've been dating a few people lately.
Implies dating casually or just for fun, not seriously. Can have a negative connotation of playing around.
彼は遊びで付き合ってるだけだよ。
He's just dating around, not serious.
To express the action of asking someone to go on a date or to start a relationship.
To invite someone on a date. The standard way to say 'ask someone out'.
思い切ってデートに誘ってみた。
I took the plunge and asked her out.
To confess one's feelings. In Japanese dating culture, a 'confession' often precedes the start of an exclusive relationship.
昨日、好きな人に告白した。
Yesterday I confessed my feelings to the person I like.
To specify that the dating is serious and aimed at marriage.
A set phrase meaning 'dating with marriage in mind'. Very common in Japanese relationship contexts.
私たちは結婚を前提に付き合っています。
We are dating with the intention of getting married.
Abbreviation of 結婚活動, meaning actively searching for a marriage partner, often through arranged dates or parties.
最近、婚活を始めた。
I recently started looking for a marriage partner.
While デート is perfect for a date event, saying デートしている can be ambiguous. For a steady relationship, use 付き合っている.
彼女と付き合っている。
I'm dating her (in a relationship).
彼女とデートしている。
I'm going on dates with her (could be casual).
付き合う implies an ongoing relationship, while デートする refers to the activity of going on a date. You can デートする with someone you are 付き合っている, but you can also デートする casually without being in a relationship.