配偶者

• Reading: はいぐうしゃ
• Romaji: haiguusha
• Kanji breakdown: 配 (hai) — distribute, match, assign; 偶 (guu) — pair, couple, chance; 者 (sha) — person
• Pronunciation: /ha.i.ɡɯː.ɕa/

Meaning

Spouse; husband or wife; partner. A gender-neutral legal term for one's married partner.

A formal noun used primarily in legal, administrative, and tax contexts. While everyday Japanese uses 夫 (otto, husband) or 妻 (tsuma, wife), 配偶者 is the standard term on official forms, in tax law (配偶者控除, haiguusha koujo, spouse deduction), and immigration documents. Its gender-neutral nature makes it increasingly preferred in formal writing.

Examples

1. 確定申告で配偶者控除を申請した。 I filed for a spouse deduction on my tax return.
2. ビザの申請には配偶者の情報も必要です。 Your spouse's information is also required for the visa application.
3. 配偶者の同意がないと契約できない場合がある。 In some cases, a contract cannot be signed without the spouse's consent.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, tax, immigration

Tone: formal

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 配 (hai, distribute/match) + 偶 (guu, pair/mate) + 者 (sha, person). Literally 'matched pair person' — one who is paired as a mate.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal