1.
wife (of someone else)
A polite term to refer to another person's wife.
奥さんは元気ですか。
How is your wife?
田中さんの奥さん
Mr. Tanaka's wife.
奥さんによろしくお伝えください。
Please give my regards to your wife.
隣の奥さんとよく話す。
I often talk with the neighbor's wife.
山田さんの奥さんは料理がとても上手で、いつもおいしいものを作ってくれる。
Mr. Yamada's wife is a very good cook and always makes delicious food for us.
奥さん is a polite term used to refer to someone else's wife. Never use it for your own wife when speaking to others.
WIFE TERMS IN JAPANESE:
- 奥さん / 奥様: someone else's wife (polite / very polite)
- 妻: my wife (neutral, most standard)
- 家内: my wife (humble, traditional — some consider it old-fashioned)
- かみさん: wife (casual, familiar)
- 嫁: wife (casual); also means bride or daughter-in-law
ETYMOLOGY:
From 奥 (inner part), originally referring to the person who stays in the inner rooms of the house.
USAGE:
Also used as a form of address for married women in general, similar to 'ma'am': 奥さん、これ落としましたよ (Ma'am, you dropped this).
Related Words
Synonym:
妻 (wife (neutral/formal))