Translation and Meaning of: 相手 - aite
If you've ever watched an anime or tried to converse in Japanese, you've probably heard the word 相手 (あいて). It appears in everyday dialogues, in songs, and even in games, but what exactly does it mean? In this article, we will explore the etymology, practical use, and even some curiosities about this word that goes far beyond just "companion" or "partner." Here at Suki Nihongo, you will also learn how to write the kanji correctly and some ready-made phrases to include in your Anki and boost your studies.
Many people search on Google for the meaning of 相手 along with questions like "how to use 相手 in a sentence?" or "what's the difference between 相手 and パートナー?". If this is your case, don't worry: we will unravel all of this in a way that you will never forget this word. And if you have ever wondered why the Japanese use this term so much, the answer lies in their culture and how they view interpersonal relationships. Shall we go?
The origin and etymology of 相手
The kanji 相手 is an interesting combination: 相 (あい), which carries the idea of mutuality, and 手 (て), which means "hand." Together, they form the image of two hands coming together, symbolizing interaction or exchange. It's no wonder that this word is used to describe someone you interact with, whether in a conversation, a game, or even a fight. The etymology reflects well the practical use: there is always a reciprocal action involved.
Interestingly, 相手 wasn't always used solely for people. In the past, it could refer to objects or situations that "interacted" with someone, such as an opponent in a game of shogi (Japanese chess). Over time, the meaning narrowed to focus on human relationships, but it still retains that nuance of reciprocity. Want a classic example? In the expression 喧嘩の相手 (けんかのあいて), it specifically describes the person you are fighting with — in other words, there is no fight without someone on the other side.
How 相手 is used in everyday life
If you've ever played video games online with Japanese people, you may have heard phrases like "相手が強い！" (あいてがつよい！ — "The opponent is strong!"). Here, 相手 takes on a competitive tone, but it can also be neutral, as in 話し相手 (はなしあいて), which is simply someone to talk to. The flexibility of this word is impressive: it adapts to the context, being a romantic partner, a work colleague, or even a client.
A valuable tip for memorization: think of 相手 as "the other party" in any interaction. If you are dancing, it’s your partner; if you are negotiating, it’s the interlocutor. Even in negative situations, like 無視する相手 (むしするあいて — "someone who ignores you"), the word maintains that essence. And be careful with false cognates! Although "companion" is a common translation, 相手 is not used for inanimate objects as Portuguese allows ("travel companion" would be 旅行仲間, for example).
Curiosities and common mistakes with 相手
You know that classic scene where the protagonist of an anime says "お前が相手か？" (おまえがあいてか？ — "So it’s you who will face me?")? Well, here 相手 takes on a challenging tone. This dramatic nuance is common in mangas and series, but in everyday life, the term is lighter. A frequent mistake made by learners is using it to refer to groups — it almost always indicates a specific person or entity, never a crowd.
Another trick lies in fixed expressions. While 良い相手 (いいあいて) means "a good partner" (in various senses), 相手にする (あいてにする) can have different connotations. If someone says "あの人を相手にしないで", it means "Don’t pay attention to that person," almost like advice to avoid problems. Do you see how the accompanying verb changes everything? These details make the difference between sounding natural or strange in a real conversation.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 対戦相手 (Taisen aite) - Opponent in a competition
- 相手方 (Aitegata) - Person or side in opposition in a formal context
- 対手 (Taisetsu) - Opponent or rival, usually in a sports or competitive context.
- ライバル (Raibaru) - Rival, often used in contexts of personal or business competition
- 敵 (Teki) - Enemy can refer to an opponent in a hostile sense.
- 反対者 (Hantai-sha) - Opponent or someone who opposes an idea, group, or system
- 相手側 (Aitegawa) - Opposite party in a situation, such as in disputes or negotiations
- 相手チーム (Aite chīmu) - Time opponent in a sports competition
- 相手選手 (Aite senshu) - Opponent in a sports competition
Related words
Romaji: aite
Kana: あいて
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3
Translation / Meaning: partner; partner; company
Meaning in English: companion;partner;company
Definition: Something that is the subject of conflict or contrast in communication or dialogue.
Quick Access
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences
How to Write in Japanese - (相手) aite
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (相手) aite:
Example Sentences - (相手) aite
See below some example sentences:
Kare wa aite wo tsuita
He pushed the opponent.
He pierced the opponent.
- 彼 (kare) - He
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 相手 (aite) - Opponent, adversary, enemy
- を (wo) - Direct object particle
- 突いた (tsuita) - Pierced, stabbed, struck
Taidowa wa aite o rikai suru tame no juuyou na shudan desu
Dialogue is an important means of understanding the other person.
Dialogue is an important means to understand the other person.
- 対話 (taiwa) - dialogue
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 相手 (aite) - another person, interlocutor
- を (wo) - direct object particle
- 理解する (rikai suru) - Understand
- ための (tame no) - for
- 重要な (juuyou na) - important
- 手段 (shudan) - middle, method
- です (desu) - Verb to be/estar
Koushou wa aite to no komyunikeeshon no juuyou na youso desu
Negotiations are an important factor in communicating with the other party.
- 交渉 - Negotiation
- は - Topic particle
- 相手 - partner/opponent
- と - connecting particle
- の - Possession particle
- コミュニケーション - Communication
- の - Possession particle
- 重要な - important
- 要素 - element
- です - Verb to be/estar
Sonzou wa aite wo taisetsu ni suru koto desu
Respect is to treat the other with importance.
Respect is to value the other person.
- 尊重 - Respect
- は - Topic particle
- 相手 - another person, partner
- を - direct object particle
- 大切 - important, valuable
- に - target particle
- する - to do, to accomplish
- こと - Thing, fact
- です - verb "to be"
Kare wa aite o nagutta
He hit the opponent.
He defeated the opponent.
- 彼 (kare) - personal pronoun meaning "he"
- は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
- 相手 (aite) - noun that means "opponent" or "adversary"
- を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
- 殴った (nagutta) - The verb in the past tense that means "hit" or "punched".
Kare wa shoubu de aite wo oshikitta
He won the match by overcoming his opponent.
He pushed the opponent in the game.
- 彼 - The Japanese pronoun that means "he" is 彼 (かれ, kare).
- は - Japanese topic particle
- 勝負 - Japanese noun meaning "game", "competition"
- で - particle that indicates the means or the way of doing something in Japanese
- 相手 - Japanese noun meaning "opponent", "adversary"
- を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
- 押し切った - Japanese verb in the past that means "completely conquer", "defeat"
Kare wa kyōsō aite o shinogu chikara o motte iru
He has the power to surpass his competitors.
He has the power to surpass competitors.
- 彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
- は - Japanese topic particle
- 競争 - Japanese noun that means "competition"
- 相手 - Japanese noun that means "opponent" or "adversary."
- を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
- 凌ぐ - Japanese verb that means "to overcome" or "to surpass."
- 力 - Japanese noun that means "strength" or "power."
- 持っている - a Japanese verb that means "to have" or "to possess"
Sōteki o sonchō suru koto ga taisetsu desu
It is important to respect your opponent.
It is important to respect the other person.
- 相手 - (the other) person
- を - object particle
- 尊重する - to respect
- こと - verb noun
- が - subject particle
- 大切 - important
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Aite wo taisetsu ni shimashou
Let's value our partners.
Take care of your opponent.
- 相手 (aite) - means "partner" or "opponent" in Japanese
- を (wo) - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
- 大切 (taisetsu) - means "important" or "precious" in Japanese
- に (ni) - destination particle in Japanese
- しましょう (shimashou) - "We will do"