1.
mother-in-law
The mother of one's spouse.
姑と同居している。
I live with my mother-in-law.
姑との関係に悩んでいる。
I'm troubled by my relationship with my mother-in-law.
姑が料理を教えてくれた。
My mother-in-law taught me how to cook.
姑 refers specifically to the mother of one's spouse. It is the traditional native Japanese word (和語) for this relationship.
WRITING:
Often written in hiragana (しゅうとめ) because the kanji 姑} is not commonly known. In formal or legal contexts, {義母 is preferred.
CULTURAL NOTE:
The 嫁と姑 (daughter-in-law and mother-in-law) relationship is a frequent topic in Japanese media and culture, often depicted as a source of family tension. The word 嫁姑問題 refers to conflicts between these two roles.
RELATED TERMS:
- 舅: father-in-law (husband's or wife's father)
- 義母: mother-in-law (formal, legal term)
- 嫁: daughter-in-law; also "wife" in some dialects
- 義理の母: mother-in-law (polite, descriptive)
Related Words
Related:
舅 (father-in-law)
Synonym:
義母 (mother-in-law (formal))
Related:
嫁 (daughter-in-law)