1.
wife (polite), madam, Mrs.
A polite and respectful way to refer to someone else's wife. Can also be used as a term of address for a married woman. Not used for one's own wife.
奥様 is the polite/honorific form used when referring to someone else's wife or addressing a married woman respectfully.
Forms
- 奥様: polite/honorific (most respectful)
- 奥さん: polite but less formal (everyday use)
- 奥方: very formal, literary
Watch out
奥様 and 奥さん are used only for someone else's wife, never for one's own. To refer to one's own wife, use 妻 (neutral) or 家内 (traditional).