Meaning and Usage
"独身" (どくしん) means "single" or "unmarried," referring to a person who is not married. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe marital status.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "独身" when talking about someone's relationship status, especially in introductions, surveys, or discussions about lifestyle choices.
Collocations and Patterns
- 独身です: to state that someone is single.
- 独身生活: single life, often implying living alone or enjoying freedom.
- 独身のまま: remaining single, often with a nuance of choice or circumstance.
Usage Notes
"独身" is neutral and does not carry negative or positive connotations by itself. However, it can be combined with other words to express attitudes toward single life. Learners sometimes confuse "独身" with "未婚" (みこん), which also means unmarried but is more formal and used in legal or official contexts.
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"独身" is appropriate in everyday conversation and written Japanese. It is polite but not overly formal.