束縛
Meaning: Being possessive or controlling in a romantic relationship, such as checking a partner's phone or restricting their social life.
束縛 literally means 'binding/restriction' but in relationship context, it refers to possessive and controlling behavior. This includes constantly checking a partner's phone, limiting who they can see, demanding to know their whereabouts, or getting angry when they spend time with others. It's generally viewed negatively, though some people joke about a small degree of 束縛 being a sign of caring.
Examples
- 彼氏の束縛がひどくて、友達とも遊べなくなった。 男朋友管得太严了,连朋友都不能出去玩了。Mi novio es tan controlador que ya no puedo ni quedar con mis amigos.남자친구의 속박이 심해서 친구랑 놀지도 못하게 됐어.
- 束縛する人って自分に自信がないんだと思う。 我觉得控制欲强的人其实是对自己没有信心。Creo que la gente posesiva en el fondo no tiene confianza en sí misma.속박하는 사람은 자기 자신에게 자신감이 없는 거라고 생각해.
- ちょっとの束縛は愛情って言う人いるけど、限度があるよね。 有人说稍微管一管是爱的表现,但凡事也得有个度吧。Hay quien dice que un poco de celos es amor, pero todo tiene un límite.약간의 속박은 애정이라고 하는 사람도 있지만 한도가 있지.
Pronunciation
/so.ku.ba.ku/
Usage Guide
Context: friends, relationship advice, social media
Tone: negative, concerned
✓ Do Say
- 束縛が激しい人とは付き合えない。 (I can't date someone who's super controlling.)控制欲太强的人我没法交往。No podría salir con alguien tan controlador.속박이 심한 사람하고는 사귈 수 없어. (집착이 심한 사람이랑은 못 사귀겠어.)
- それって束縛じゃない?大丈夫? (Isn't that possessive behavior? Are you okay?)这不就是管太多了吗?你没事吧?¿Eso no es ser posesivo? ¿Estás bien?그거 속박 아니야? 괜찮아? (그거 집착하는 거 아냐? 괜찮아?)
✗ Don't Say
- 初デートで「束縛するタイプ?」と聞くと引かれる (Asking 'are you the possessive type?' on a first date will put people off)第一次约会就问'你是那种管很多的人吗'会吓到对方Preguntar en la primera cita «¿eres del tipo posesivo?» espanta a cualquiera.첫 데이트에서 '속박하는 타입이야?'라고 물으면 상대가 질린다 (첫 데이트에서 '집착하는 스타일이야?'라고 물으면 상대가 기겁한다)
Common Mistakes
- Thinking 束縛 always means physical restraint — in dating contexts, it almost always refers to emotional/behavioral control
Origin & History
From 束 (bundle/bind) + 縛 (tie/bind). Originally a general term meaning 'restraint,' it became widely used in romantic relationship discussions, especially with the rise of dating culture discourse in the 2000s-2010s.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s relationship discourse
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. A common topic in relationship advice media and everyday conversation.
More From This Topic
More from Relationships & Dating
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free