合コン

• 読み: ごうコン
• ローマ字: gōkon
• 漢字の分解: 合 (joint/together) + コン (from コンパ, party/gathering) → joint social gathering for dating
• 発音: /ɡoː.ko.n/

意味

A group blind date or social mixer — an organized gathering where single men and women meet in a group setting to find potential partners.

合コン is a Japanese dating tradition where a group of single men and a group of single women meet at a restaurant or izakaya for drinks and conversation. Usually organized by one person from each side who knows the others, it's a low-pressure way to meet potential dates. While still popular, its prominence has somewhat declined with the rise of マッチングアプリ (dating apps).

例文

1. 今週の金曜、合コンセッティングしたんだけど来ない？
2. 合コンで隣に座った人がめっちゃタイプだった。
3. 合コンより今はマッチングアプリの方が主流かも。

使い方ガイド

場面: friends, university, young professionals

トーン: excited, social

正しい言い方

• 今度合コンあるんだけど、一緒に来ない？ (There's a mixer coming up — want to come?)
• 合コンで出会って結婚した人、結構いるよね。 (There are actually a lot of people who met at mixers and got married.)

避ける言い方

• パートナーがいる人の前で「合コン行こう」は配慮に欠ける (Suggesting a mixer in front of someone who has a partner is inconsiderate)

よくある間違い

• Thinking 合コン is a one-on-one blind date — it's always a group event, typically 3-5 people on each side

起源と歴史

Abbreviation of 合同コンパ (gōdō konpa), meaning 'joint party.' コンパ is from German 'Kompanie' (company/gathering). A staple of Japanese university and young professional social culture since the 1980s.

文化的背景

時代: 1980s university culture, still active today

世代: Primarily 20s-30s, university students and young professionals

社会的背景: Mainstream social activity

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. A traditional dating method alongside modern マッチングアプリ.