婿(むこ)

むこ
noun
bridegroom; son-in-law
familymarriage
1. bridegroom, groom
A man who is getting married or has just married.
花嫁(はなよめ)と婿(むこ)が入場(にゅうじょう)した。
The bride and groom entered.
娘(むすめ)の婿(むこ)を探(さが)している。
I'm looking for a husband for my daughter.
2. son-in-law
The husband of one's daughter. Also used for a man who marries into and takes his wife's family name.
娘(むすめ)の婿(むこ)を探(さが)している。
I'm looking for a husband for my daughter.
立派(りっぱ)な婿(むこ)さんですね。
What a fine son-in-law you have.
彼(かれ)は婿養子(むこようし)として田中家(たなかけ)に入(はい)った。
He married into the Tanaka family as an adopted son-in-law.
うちの婿(むこ)はとても気(き)が利(き)く人(ひと)だ。
Our son-in-law is a very considerate person.
跡取(あとと)りがいないので婿(むこ)を取(と)ることにした。
Since there was no heir, they decided to take in a son-in-law.

Usage

When referring to someone else's son-in-law or groom politely, お婿(むこ)さん is used. 婿養子(むこようし) specifically refers to a man who marries into his wife's family and takes her surname — a practice with deep roots in Japanese family law and tradition.

The expression 婿(むこ)を取(と)る means to take in a son-in-law (i.e., to have a man marry into the family).

Common collocations

  • 花(はな)婿(むこ): bridegroom (formal)
  • 婿養子(むこようし): adopted son-in-law
  • 婿(むこ)を取(と)る: to take in a son-in-law
  • 婿入(むこい)り: marrying into the wife's family

Related Words

Related: 嫁(よめ) (bride, wife)
Compare: 新郎(しんろう) (bridegroom, groom)
general
Added 2026.2.8 14:52 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
10500/10617_muko