メイド
めいど
noun
maid; maid cafe worker
1.
maid, housemaid
A female domestic servant who cleans and does household work. From English "maid."
メイドを雇う。
To hire a maid.
彼女は富豪の家でメイドとして働いていた。
She worked as a maid at a wealthy family's home.
昔の西洋の貴族の屋敷にはメイドが何人もいた。
In old Western aristocratic mansions, there were many maids.
2.
maid cafe worker, maid (subculture)
A worker at a maid cafe, dressed in a maid costume and providing a themed hospitality experience. Part of Japanese otaku subculture, especially associated with Akihabara.
メイド喫茶に行ってみた。
I tried going to a maid cafe.
秋葉原にはメイド姿の女の子が通りで客引きをしている。
In Akihabara, girls in maid outfits are soliciting customers on the street.
メイドカフェでは店員が「おかえりなさいませ、ご主人様」と言って迎えてくれる。
At maid cafes, the staff greet you by saying 'Welcome home, master.'
USAGE:
Sense 1 refers to the traditional meaning of a domestic servant, used when discussing Western households or historical settings. Sense 2 reflects modern Japanese pop culture, where メイド is strongly associated with 秋葉原 (Akihabara) and otaku culture.
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
メイド喫茶 (maid cafes) became a cultural phenomenon in the early 2000s. Staff wear elaborate maid costumes and interact with customers using theatrical hospitality, addressing them as ご主人様 (master) or お嬢様 (milady).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- メイド喫茶 / メイドカフェ: maid cafe
- メイド服: maid outfit
- メイド姿: dressed as a maid
- メイドを雇う: to hire a maid