Translation guide
A sexual partner without romantic commitment. Japanese has several slang terms, ranging from casual to crude. The most common and versatile is セフレ (sefure).
A friend with whom one has sex without romantic involvement.
Abbreviation of セックスフレンド. Very common in casual conversation among younger people. Neutral to slightly crude.
あの人、ただのセフレだよ。
That person is just a fuck buddy.
セフレが欲しいって言ってた。
He said he wants a fuck buddy.
The full form of セフレ. Slightly more explicit, but still common.
私たちはセックスフレンドの関係です。
We have a fuck buddy relationship.
Literally 'sex friend'. A more direct Japanese coinage, but less common than セフレ. Can sound a bit stiff or euphemistic.
彼は性友を探している。
He's looking for a fuck buddy.
Explicitly crude ways to refer to a fuck buddy, often used among close male friends or in vulgar contexts.
From やる (to fuck) + 友 (friend). Very crude and masculine. Not used in polite company.
Extremely vulgar. Use only with very close friends who appreciate crude humor.
あいつ、やり友が何人もいるらしい。
That guy apparently has several fuck buddies.
Direct loan from English 'fuck friend'. Less common than セフレ and sounds more explicit/foreign.
ファックフレンドが欲しいんだって。
He says he wants a fuck buddy.
Softer ways to describe a casual sexual relationship without using explicit slang.
Literally 'a body-only relationship'. Describes the nature of the relationship rather than the person. Can be used in more serious or explanatory contexts.
彼とは体だけの関係です。
I have a purely physical relationship with him.
Literally 'a clear-cut relationship'. Implies a pragmatic, no-strings-attached arrangement. More about the mindset than the physical aspect.
お互い割り切った関係でいましょう。
Let's keep this as a no-strings-attached relationship.
All direct terms for 'fuck buddy' are slang and should not be used in formal or polite situations. In such contexts, describe the relationship indirectly (e.g., 体だけの関係) or avoid the topic. Using セフレ with strangers or superiors can be seen as crude or inappropriate.
彼とはそういう関係ではありません。
I'm not in that kind of relationship with him.
セフレ is the most common and natural in casual speech. セックスフレンド is its full form, slightly more explicit. 性友 is a Japanese-made word that is less common and can sound awkward or overly literal. Stick with セフレ for most situations.