Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Wife" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "wife", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
夫人
ふじん (fujin)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
妻
つま (tsuma)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "wife" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 夫人 and 妻.
In Japanese, 夫人 (ふじん (fujin)) is typically associated with "wife; madam; Mrs." (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents A polite term used to refer to someone else's wife, or a married woman of high social standing. It is not typically used to refer to one's own wife.
On the other hand, 妻 (つま (tsuma)) maps to "wife" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to one's own wife. When talking about someone else's wife, 「奥さん. A literal translation of "wife" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "夫人"
社長夫人がパーティーにいらっしゃいました。
The president's wife came to the party.
Bilingual Context for "妻"
わたしの妻は料理が上手です。
My wife is good at cooking.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "社長 ＿＿＿ がパーティーにいらっしゃいました。" (Meaning: "The president's wife came to the party.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "夫人" fits here because it means "wife; madam; Mrs." in the context of: "The president's wife came to the party.". "妻" represents "wife".