(ともかせ)

ともかせぎ
noun
dual income; both spouses working
1. dual income; both spouses working; two-income household
A household where both husband and wife work and earn income. A common arrangement in modern Japan, increasingly discussed in the context of work-life balance and childcare.
うちは共稼(ともかせ)ぎだ。
We're a dual-income household.
共稼(ともかせ)ぎの夫婦(ふうふ)()えている。
The number of dual-income couples is increasing.
共稼(ともかせ)ぎでないと住宅(じゅうたく)ローンの返済(へんさい)(きび)しいと(かん)じる家庭(かてい)(おお)い。
Many families feel that mortgage payments are tough without both spouses working.

USAGE:
Also written as 共働(ともばたら)き, which is the more common form in modern Japanese. 共稼(ともかせ)ぎ is slightly older but still used. Both refer to the same concept.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 共稼(ともかせ)ぎの夫婦(ふうふ) (a dual-income couple)
  • 共稼(ともかせ)世帯(せたい) (a dual-income household)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 共働(ともばたら)き: dual income; both working — more common synonym, nearly interchangeable
  • 片稼(かたかせ)ぎ: single-income — only one spouse working (less common term)