夫婦別姓
ふうふべっせい (fūfu bessē)A legal system where married partners retain their original surnames instead of adopting a common surname.
夫婦別姓を選択する夫婦が増えている。
More couples are choosing to keep separate surnames after marriage.
夫婦別姓を認める国は世界的に見ても少ない。
Few countries legally permit married couples to retain separate surnames.
The term specifically refers to the legal right to maintain one's maiden name after marriage, distinct from the traditional practice of adopting the husband's surname in Japan.
A social phenomenon where married individuals continue using their birth family names in daily life despite legal surname changes.
実務上は夫婦別姓でも、社会的な書類では同姓を使う人が多い。
Even when legally permitted to keep separate surnames, many people use the same surname in official documents for practical reasons.
This usage reflects how cultural norms may override legal permissions in social contexts.
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Cultural Context
In Japan, the family registry system (戸籍, koseki) historically required married couples to share a surname, making 夫婦別姓 legally complex. Even today, changing one's surname in official records requires bureaucratic procedures that discourage adoption of separate surnames.
⚡Gold Rule
Legal vs. Social Practice
While 夫婦別姓 may be legally permitted in certain cases (e.g., foreign marriages), social and administrative systems often still expect couples to use the same surname in official documents, highlighting the gap between law and practice.
📖Word Origin
Composed of 夫婦 (ふうふ, fūfu, 'married couple') + 別 (べつ, betsu, 'separate') + 姓 (せい, sei, 'surname'). The term emerged in the late 20th century during debates about gender equality in Japan, contrasting with the traditional 同姓 (どうせい, dōsei, 'same surname') system.
📝Usage Notes
1. In Japan, the legal default since 1898 required married couples to adopt the same surname (typically the husband's), though exceptions existed for foreign marriages. 2. The term gained prominence in the 1990s-2000s amid feminist movements advocating for women's rights in marriage. 3. While legally permitted in some contexts (e.g., international marriages), full legalization of 夫婦別姓 remains controversial in Japan due to traditional family values and administrative systems built around the same-surname model.