1.
housekeeper, maid, domestic helper
A woman employed to manage household duties such as cleaning, cooking, and laundry. In Japan, housekeepers are typically dispatched through agencies and work on a visiting basis rather than living in the household.
週に二回、家政婦に来てもらっている。
I have a housekeeper come twice a week.
家政婦を雇って家事を任せることにした。
I decided to hire a housekeeper and leave the housework to her.
共働きの家庭では家政婦サービスの需要が高まっている。
In dual-income households, the demand for housekeeper services is growing.
USAGE:
The word specifically refers to a female domestic worker (婦 = woman). The gender-neutral equivalent is 家事代行 (housework outsourcing service), which is becoming more common in modern usage. In Japan, 家政婦 services are typically arranged through 家政婦紹介所 (housekeeper referral agencies).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 家政婦を雇う: to hire a housekeeper
- 家政婦サービス: housekeeper service
- 住み込みの家政婦: live-in housekeeper