1. Introduction
In Japan, the wife is traditionally seen as the head of the household and is held in high regard. It is important to understand how Japanese people call their wives, as this can help you better understand their culture and customs. In this article, we will discuss the traditional and modern terms for wife in Japan, as well as honorific titles and differences between formal and informal names for wife in Japan. We will also look at what to call your wife if you’re not Japanese.
2. Cultural Significance of Wives in Japan
In Japan, the wife has traditionally been seen as the head of the household and is held in high regard. The husband is expected to provide for his family financially, while it is the responsibility of the wife to look after her home and family. This role has become less rigid over time but it still remains an important part of Japanese culture today.
The traditional role of a Japanese wife includes taking care of her husband’s needs, raising children, managing finances, and keeping up with household chores such as cooking and cleaning. In addition to these responsibilities, she also plays a major role in making decisions that affect her family’s life and future.
3. Traditional Japanese Terms for Wife
The traditional term used by Japanese people to refer to their wives is “okusan” (奥さん). This term literally translates to “honorable person” or “respected one” and is used by both men and women when referring to their wives or husbands respectively. It carries a sense of respect for one’s partner that reflects traditional gender roles in Japan.
Another term that was once commonly used by men when referring to their wives was “tsuma” (妻). This term literally translates to “wife” but it has largely fallen out of use due to its derogatory connotations associated with women being viewed as property rather than equals in marriage.
4. Modern Terms for Wife in Japan
Today, there are a variety of terms used by both men and women when referring to their wives or husbands respectively in Japan:
• Hahaoya (母親): This term literally translates to “mother” but can be used by both men and women when referring to their spouses;
• Shufu (主婦): This term literally translates to “housewife” but can be used by both men and women when referring to their spouses;
• Kazoku (家族): This term literally translates to “family” but can be used by both men and women when referring to their spouses;
• Tsuma (妻): Although this term has largely fallen out of use due its derogatory connotations associated with women being viewed as property rather than equals in marriage, some couples still use it fondly when addressing each other;
• Kanai (家内): This term literally translates to “inside the house/family” but can be used by both men and women when referring to their spouses;
• Otto (夫): This term literally translates to “husband” but can be used by both men and women when referring to their spouses;
• Tsuma-san (妻さん):This polite form of address combines tsuma with san which means “Mr./Mrs.” or “Ms.” It carries a sense of respect for one’s partner that reflects traditional gender roles in Japan;
• Kazoku-san (家族さん):This polite form of address combines kazoku with san which means “Mr./Mrs.” or “Ms.” It carries a sense of respect for one’s partner that reflects traditional gender roles in Japan;
• Hahaoya-san (母親さん):This polite form of address combines hahaoya with san which means “Mr./Mrs.” or “Ms.” It carries a sense of respect for one’s partner that reflects traditional gender roles in Japan;
• Shufu-san(主婦さん):This polite formof address combines shufuwith san which means “Mr./Mrs.” or “Ms.” It carries a senseof respectforone’spartnerthatreflectstraditionalgenderrolesinJapan.
5. Honorific Titles for Wife in Japan
Honorific titles are often added after someone’s name as an expressionofrespectandadmirationinJapaneseculture.Forexample,if someone wereaddressingtheirwife,they may usethe title”Okusama”whichmeans”honorablewife”. Other honorific titles include”Okusan”,”Tsumasama”,”Kazokusama”,”Hahaoyasama”,”Shufusama”,etc., allofwhichcarrythesamemeaningofrespectandadmiration.These titles are usually onlyusedwhenspeakingtosomeonewhoisnotapartofthefamilyorifthepersonisbeingparticularlyformal.
6 Differences between Formaland InformalNamesforWifeinJapan
When speaking informally amongst family members,more casual terms such asthefollowingcanbeused : okaa-san(お母さん)whichliterallytranslatesto”mommy”,otto-chan(夫ちゃん)whichliterallytranslatesto”dearhusband”,tsuma-chan(妻ちゃん)whichliterallytranslatesto”dearwife”, etc.These terms carry lessformalityandservetopromotefamiliarityamongstfamilymembers.
7 WhattoCallYourWifeifYou’reNotJapanese?
If you are notJapanese,thenyoumaywishtoconsiderthefollowingtermswhenaddressingyourwife : okusan(おくさん)whichmeanstherespectfultermfor”wife”; tsuma(妻)whichmeansthetraditionaltermfor”wife”; hajimemashite(はじめまして)whichmeansthepolitegreetingformeetingsomeonefornew ; okaasan(お母さん)whichmeansthemotherlytermfor”mommy”; okami(おかみ)whichmeansawomanwithauthority ; kanai(家内) whichmeansawomanwholivesinthesamehousehold ; shufu(主婦) whichmeansahousewifewithresponsibility ; otto-sama(夫様 ) whichmeansthemostrespectfultermforahusband; tsuma-sama(妻様 ) whichmeansthemostrespectfultermforawife ; kazoku-sama（家族様） which meansthetitleforentirefamilies.
8 FinalThoughtsonHowJapanesePeopleCallTheirWives In conclusion,therearemanywaysthroughwhic hJap anesepeoplecalltheirwivesrangingfromtraditionalterms suchast ok usanand ts uma tom oremodernterms suchaskana iands h ufuto honorifi c titlessuchast s umas amaandk azok usamato informalterms suchasokaas anand t sumach an.Eachtermhasit ownconnotationsofrespectandsignificancedependingonthesituationitiscalledin soitispivotaltochoosetherightwordwhenaddressingyourspouseorpartnerinJapaneseculture.
9 Conclusion To sum up,understandinghowJapanesepeoplecalltheirwivescanhelpyoubetterunderstandtheircultureandcustoms.ThereareavarietyoftraditionalandmoderntermsusedbybothmenandwomenwhenreferringtotheirspousesorsignificantothersinJapanincludingok usan,”tsum a,”k azoku,”ha haoya,”sh ufu,”kanai,”otto,”t s um a -s an,”k azok usa n,”ha haoyasa n,”sh ufusa n,etc.,alongwithhonorifi c titlessuchast s umasa maandk azok usamatocallthei rwivesormarriedpartnersrespectfully.Dependingonthesituationortherelationshipbetweenthetwoindividuals,differenttermscanbeusedtoexpressdifferentlevels offormali tyandsubtleconnotationsof respectandan admirationfortheirpartner.”
What do Japanese married couples call each other?
Japanese doesnt have a native language to express feelings so I borrowed it from English. Since Daarin is a gender neutral form of affection both boyfriend and girlfriend can call each other this way. Even married couples lovingly greet their spouses in this way. !
How do Japanese call their partners?
Chin/Kun men are called by proper names while women are called simply by their given names.
Do Japanese take wifes name?
Japanese marriage law requires that both husband and wife have the same last name. No country other than Japan requires married couples to have the same last name.
What does Japanese call their girlfriend?
kanojo
The standard Japanese word for girlfriend is kanojo (彼女 / かのじょ). This word can be used by anyone in different settings.
What is a sweet name to call your wife?
Some men go the classic route with names like Angel Lover and sweetheart some prefer food-inspired monikers like cookies and cake and others adore their partners with charming names like Goddess Queen and Light of My Life.
What do husbands call their wife?
Significant other: A common way to refer to someone with whom you are in a close committed relationship. Spouse: Spouse or spouse or common-law partner. Husband/Husband: Avoid talking to your husband. wife/wife: A derogatory way to refer to your wife.