お揃い
Meaning: Matching items — especially couples wearing matching outfits, accessories, or having matching items as a sign of their relationship.
お揃い literally means 'matching' and in couple culture refers to intentionally wearing or owning matching items. This includes matching outfits (ペアルック), phone cases, accessories, or even matching profile pictures on social media. While it might seem embarrassing to some, it's a popular way for Japanese couples to show their bond, especially among younger pairs.
Examples
- 彼氏とお揃いのスマホケース買っちゃった。 跟男朋友买了同款手机壳。Me compré una funda de móvil a juego con la de mi novio.남자친구랑 커플 폰케이스 사 버렸어.
- お揃いのTシャツでディズニー行くカップル多いよね。 穿情侣装去迪士尼的人好多啊。Hay muchas parejas que van a Disneyland con camisetas a juego, ¿verdad?커플 티 입고 디즈니랜드 가는 커플 많지.
- お揃いは恥ずかしいって言う人もいるけど、私は好き。 有人觉得穿情侣款很尴尬,但我喜欢。Hay gente que dice que ir a juego da vergüenza, pero a mí me gusta.커플템이 부끄럽다는 사람도 있지만, 나는 좋아.
Pronunciation
/o.so.ɾo.i/
Usage Guide
Context: friends, couples, shopping, social media
Tone: sweet, excited
✓ Do Say
- お揃いにしない? (Shall we get matching ones?)我们买同款的好不好?(Shall we get matching ones?)¿Nos compramos algo a juego?커플템 맞추지 않을래? (Shall we get matching ones?)
- お揃いのアクセサリーもらったの、見て! (Look, I got a matching accessory as a gift!)你看!收到了同款配饰当礼物!(Look, I got a matching accessory as a gift!)¡Mira, me regalaron un accesorio a juego!커플 악세사리 선물 받았어, 봐봐! (Look, I got a matching accessory as a gift!)
✗ Don't Say
- 仕事の場で「お揃いですね」をカップルの意味で使うと誤解される (Using お揃い in work contexts might be misunderstood — it can simply mean 'matching' without romantic connotation)在工作场合用「お揃い」可能会被误解——它也可以单纯表示'一样的',不一定有恋爱含义(Using お揃い in work contexts might be misunderstood — it can simply mean 'matching' without romantic connotation)Usar お揃い en el contexto laboral puede dar lugar a malentendidos, ya que simplemente puede significar 'igual' sin connotación romántica직장에서 'お揃い(오소로이)네요'를 커플 의미로 쓰면 오해받을 수 있다 (업무 상황에서 お揃い는 단순히 '같은 것'이라는 뜻으로 쓰일 수 있어 연애 의미로 오해를 살 수 있음)
Common Mistakes
- Thinking お揃い only means romantic matching — it can describe any matching items between friends, family, or groups, though the romantic usage is most prominent
Origin & History
From the polite prefix お + 揃い (matching/aligned). A general Japanese word that became especially associated with couple culture and matching items as a romantic expression.
Cultural Context
Era: Long-established concept, especially popular since the 2000s couple culture
Generation: All ages, most popular among young couples
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Matching couple items are especially popular at theme parks like Disneyland.
More From This Topic
More from Relationships & Dating
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free