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If someone can think of a better title, please edit or suggest a better one.

Recently, I have started noticing some Japanese people using the adjective
真面目な paired to words such as 出会い, 関係, etc, when referring to relationships. As
opposed to casual ones I suppose.

I have a strong feeling that this is some kind of modern thing. Maybe an
adaptation deriving from the fact that other languages commonly refer to
relationships as "serious" or "casual". In the past I may have attempted to
use 真面目 this way. If memory doesn't trick me though, that resulted in a sort
of "understandable but odd" Japanese. Just as it often happens when someone
lacking better options, tries to translate literally from another language.

So I wonder if over the years something like 真面目な関係, for example, became
actually more common just as a result of that "understandable but odd" usage I
mentioned above. Could this have also been aided by the internet age and the
advent of popular dating apps, in which obviously this constitutes base
terminology?

I may be completely wrong though and 真面目な has always been used like that or
simply some Japanese people use it on purpose as an "odd but easily
understandable by foreigners" kind of Japanese. This is all based on a limited
personal experience and a hunch after all and that's why I wanted to ask here.
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2018-10-29T03:48:50.583
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question
word-choice words adjectives
Is the use of 真面目な a modern way to refer to sentimental relationships as "serious" or has it always been standard?
To my eyes, 真面目な出会い is a perfectly natural word usage as Japanese. I do not
think it was influenced by any English phrase or phenomenon. Period.

...Well, I agree that 真面目な出会い is becoming a popular catchphrase, and I think
there is a reason. 真面目な in this context refers to somewhat "proper" form of
love based on the traditional Japanese standards. While 真剣な(恋/関係) also
translates to "serious (love/relationship)", it mainly refers to the
_strength_ of your love. On the other hand, 真面目な more focuses on the _form_ of
love; 真面目な出会い/関係 refers to a "proper" relationship, a relationship that will
not be seen as frivolous or hedonistic by other people. Recently, 真面目な出会い
tends to be more emphasized in the _konkatsu/deai_ industries. In Japan, the
number of [草食系 people](https://discoverjapannow.wordpress.com/tag/soshokukei/)
has increased, and the marriage rate is constantly declining. They tend to see
love as an ephemeral, frivolous and risky thing. To them, 真面目な関係 has a cleaner
and safer impression, and thus can appear more appealing than 真剣な関係, although
both are translated as "serious relationship" in English.
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2018-10-29T06:51:57.710
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answer