新婚

しんこん

newly-wed

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"新婚" (しんこん) specifically refers to the state of being newly married, typically used to describe couples who have recently wed. It is a noun often combined with other words like "旅行" (trip) or "生活" (life) to talk about honeymoon or newlywed life.

Common Collocations

  • 新婚旅行 (しんこんりょこう): honeymoon trip
  • 新婚生活 (しんこんせいかつ): life as newlyweds
  • 新婚夫婦 (しんこんふうふ): newlywed couple

Register and Nuance

This word is neutral and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It often conveys a positive, fresh start in marriage. When using "新婚," speakers imply the couple is in the early phase of marriage, often associated with happiness and adjustment.

Learner Tips

A common confusion is mixing "新婚" with "結婚" (marriage). "結婚" refers to the act or state of marriage in general, while "新婚" emphasizes the newlywed period. Use "新婚" when focusing on the early stage after marriage, especially in contexts like honeymoon or early married life.

Example Sentences

しんこんりょこうでハワイにいきました。

We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon.

しんこんのふたりはしあわせそうにみえた。

The newlyweds looked happy.

しんこんせいかつはたのしいこともたいへんなこともあります。

Newlywed life has both enjoyable and challenging moments.