主人(しゅじん)

しゅじん
noun
husband; master
humblebusinessfamily
See also: ご主人(しゅじん) (polite form)
1. husband (humble)
A humble way to refer to one's own husband when speaking to others. This is the traditional term used when women speak about their own husbands.
主人(しゅじん)は会社(かいしゃ)です。
My husband is at work.
主人(しゅじん)は今(いま)会社(かいしゃ)にいます。
My husband is at the company now.
うちの主人(しゅじん)は歌(うた)が上手(じょうず)です。
My husband is good at singing.
主人(しゅじん)は毎日(まいにち)早(はや)く家(いえ)に帰(かえ)ります。
My husband comes home early every day.
主人(しゅじん)は来週(らいしゅう)から海外(かいがい)に行(い)きます。一(いっ)か月(げつ)ほど帰(かえ)れません。
My husband is going abroad starting next week. He won't be able to come back for about a month.
2. master, owner
The master or owner of a household, business, or establishment. In this sense the word is neutral in register, not humble: it can be used of anyone's shop or inn.
店(みせ)の主人(しゅじん)に聞(き)く。
To ask the shop owner.
この店(みせ)の主人(しゅじん)はとても親切(しんせつ)です。
The owner of this shop is very kind.
旅館(りょかん)の主人(しゅじん)が案内(あんない)してくれました。
The owner of the inn showed us around.
犬(いぬ)は主人(しゅじん)をよく覚(おぼ)えています。
Dogs remember their masters well.
あの店(みせ)は主人(しゅじん)が代(か)わってから、味(あじ)が変(か)わりました。前(まえ)の方(ほう)がおいしかったです。
That shop's taste changed after the owner changed. It was more delicious before.

主人(しゅじん) is a humble term traditionally used by wives to refer to their own husbands. It literally means 'master,' which some modern speakers find hierarchical.

Keigo

  • 主人(しゅじん): my husband (humble, about one's own)
  • ご主人(しゅじん): your/someone's husband (respectful)

Usage

Some women prefer 夫(おっと) (neutral) or 旦那(だんな) (casual) instead. 主人(しゅじん) remains common but is sometimes debated for its hierarchical connotation.

USAGE (sense 2, owner):
Also means the owner or proprietor of a shop, inn, or establishment: 店(みせ)の主人(しゅじん) (shop owner), 旅館(りょかん)の主人(しゅじん) (inn owner). In this sense 主人(しゅじん) is neutral in register, not humble.

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: 夫(おっと) (neutral)
Synonym: 旦那(だんな) (casual)
Compare: 連(つ)れ合(あ)い (spouse, partner)
Compare: 当主(とうしゅ) (head of a household, family head)
Compare: 配偶者(はいぐうしゃ) (spouse)

Related Articles

Referring to People: Pronouns, Names, Titles, and Family Terms
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:53 · Revised 2026.10.11 22:20
00500/00987_shujin