1.
young wife; young madam; young mistress of the house
A polite or somewhat old-fashioned term for a young married woman, especially the wife of a household head. Often used by service staff, in-laws, or neighbors to address or refer to a young wife with respect.
若奥様、お荷物をお持ちします。
Young madam, let me carry your bags.
あちらの若奥様は有名な料理研究家だそうだ。
I hear that young wife over there is a famous cooking expert.
若奥様は毎朝早くからお庭の手入れをされている。
The young madam tends to the garden every morning from early on.
A compound of 若 (young) and 奥様 (wife, madam). The term carries a respectful and somewhat traditional tone.
USAGE:
This term is typically used:
- By household staff or shop employees addressing the young wife of a family
- By older relatives or neighbors referring to a newly married woman
- In fiction and drama, especially period or domestic settings
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 若奥様のお帰り — the young madam's return home
- 若奥様にご報告 — reporting to the young madam
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 奥様 — wife, madam (general polite term, no age restriction)
- 奥さん — wife, Mrs. (less formal than 奥様)
- 若旦那 — young master (the male counterpart)
- 新妻 — newly wedded wife (emphasizes the newness of the marriage)
- お嫁さん — bride; young wife (more colloquial and warm)
REGISTER:
Formal and traditional. Less commonly used in modern casual conversation, but still appears in customer service (especially at high-end shops), fiction, and formal domestic contexts. The term can sound charming or quaint in contemporary use.