Tsure

Tsure is a Japanese term written with the characters 連れ, pronounced tsure in kun readings. It functions primarily as a noun meaning a companion or company, and as the root of the verb 連れる (tsureru), which means to take along or bring someone or something with you. The noun 連れ refers to a person or animal that accompanies someone, as in phrases like いい連れ (a good companion) or 私の連れ (my companion).

The related verb 連れる is used to describe the act of bringing someone along; its te-form 連れて (tsurete) connects to other verbs or clauses, as in 犬を連れて散歩する (to take a dog for a walk) or 家族を連れて行く (to take the family along). The expression 連れ立つ (tsure-datsu) means to go somewhere together or to accompany one another, and is common in literary or formal contexts.

In addition to its general usage, tsure appears in compound words such as 連れ合い (つれあい, tsureai), meaning a spouse or life partner. This reflects the core sense of tsure as a bearer of companionship in social relations. In modern Japanese, tsure is largely encountered through the verbs and compounds derived from 連れる, with the standalone noun used mainly in fixed phrases and literary contexts.

See also: 連れる, 連れ合い, 連れ立つ, 同行, 添える.