告白

• 読み: こくはく
• ローマ字: kokuhaku
• 漢字の分解: 告 (tell/announce) + 白 (confess/reveal) → confession of romantic feelings
• 発音: /ko.ku.ha.ku/

意味

A love confession — directly telling someone you have romantic feelings for them, a key cultural ritual in Japanese dating.

告白 is a cornerstone of Japanese dating culture. Unlike many Western countries where dating often starts casually, in Japan it is common to formally confess your feelings (告白する) before a relationship officially begins. The classic phrase is「好きです、付き合ってください」(I like you, please go out with me). This tradition is deeply embedded in school culture and continues into adulthood.

例文

1. 放課後に呼び出されて告白されたんだけど、めっちゃドキドキした。
2. 告白するタイミングがわからなくて、もう3ヶ月も迷ってる。
3. 友達に告白の練習付き合ってもらった。

使い方ガイド

場面: friends, school, dating, social media

トーン: serious, emotional

正しい言い方

• 今日告白するつもり！ (I'm going to confess my feelings today!)
• 告白されたけど、ちょっと考えさせてって言った。 (Someone confessed to me but I said let me think about it.)

避ける言い方

• ビジネスの場で「告白」を恋愛の意味で使うと場違い (Using 告白 in its romantic sense in a business setting is out of place — it also means 'confession' in general)

よくある間違い

• Not understanding that 告白 is a formal ritual in Japan — it's not just casually mentioning you like someone, it's a deliberate, serious declaration

起源と歴史

From the kanji 告 (tell) + 白 (confess), literally 'confession.' While the word existed in formal/religious contexts, its romantic usage became deeply embedded in Japanese school and dating culture, distinct from Western dating norms.

文化的背景

時代: Deeply rooted in Japanese dating culture, especially since the post-war period

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. A fundamental concept in Japanese romantic relationships.