Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Husband" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "husband", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
夫婦
ふうふ (fūfu)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
夫
おっと (otto)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "husband" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 夫婦 and 夫.
In Japanese, 夫婦 (ふうふ (fūfu)) is typically associated with "husband and wife; a married couple" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to a married couple. Can be used to describe two people who are married to each other..
On the other hand, 夫 (おっと (otto)) maps to "husband (one's own)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Used to refer to one's own husband. When referring to someone else's husband, 「ご主人. A literal translation of "husband" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "夫婦"
あの夫婦はいつも仲がいい。
That couple always gets along well.
Bilingual Context for "夫"
私の夫は毎日、会社の近くのカフェでランチを食べます。
My husband eats lunch at a cafe near his office every day.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "あの ＿＿＿ はいつも仲がいい。" (Meaning: "That couple always gets along well.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "夫婦" fits here because it means "husband and wife; a married couple" in the context of: "That couple always gets along well.". "夫" represents "husband (one's own)".