What is the difference between シングル and フリー ?
I’ve checked the JP definitions for フリー and it doesnt mention being ‘free’ / ‘single’ as a definition
Means ‘自由であること’ normally or in genera;, being free/inconvenienced/not tied down by restrictions (not in a relationship sense I’m guessing)
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When I read ” 彼女は今フリーだと聞いた。”, to me it sounds like two people are discussing the price of a woman’s ”services” and saying she’s free of charge.
なんか「無料の女」でしょう？
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Both シングル and フリー can mean someone isn’t in a relationship, I wouldn’t say there’s much difference between the two in “彼女は今〇〇だと聞いた”. Although フリー feels more common/natural to me at least
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Just looked up フリー in 大辞林 now. Your definition is listed as the most common, 無料 is listed third. So it would depend on context but your definition is definitely more likely to be correct.
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Hey!
This is me speaking as a native and how people around me use it, but we usually use フリー to describe a single person. Although シングル could also be used, this can be confusing since シングル is also a word that is used to refer to ‘single parents’.
For example, if someone said 田中さんはシングルだから大変そうだね, it would translate as ‘Tanaka-san must have it hard since they are a single father/mother’ and would not be translated as ‘Tanaka-san must have it hard since they are single’.
Also when people use シングル and フリー as ‘single’, they are used with slightly different nuances. For example, フリー has the nuance of 独身, close to what English speakers think of when they say ‘single’. However, シングル has the nuance that the person is not in a exclusive relationship.
However, this could be different depending on the region and the people you talk to, but people around me and on media, フリー is used more to mean ‘single’ compared to シングル.
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For me, シングル carries a neutral nuance, simply stating that someone is not married, while フリー emphasizes a sense of freedom or being unbound by a romantic relationship.
たとえば
・彼は30代でまだシングルだ。He is in his 30s and still single.
（結婚していないという事実を示している。This highlights the fact that he is not married.）
・シングルマザーとして頑張っている。She is working hard as a single mother.
（婚姻状況にフォーカスしている。This focuses on her marital status.）
・今はフリーだから好きなことを楽しんでいる。I’m free now, so I’m enjoying doing whatever I want.
（恋愛に縛られていないことを強調。This emphasizes not being tied to a romantic relationship.）
・彼女がいなくなって、またフリーになった。He’s single again after breaking up with his girlfriend.
（恋人と別れて自由になったことを示している。This shows that he is now free after ending a relationship.）
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Looking back this was a poor attempt to be funny (too vulgar), and made in the wrong setting. Sorry @saragraca , I shouldn’t make this kind of comment in a thread where you ask a genuine question.
It was inappropriate and unhelpful, I apologize.
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