How to Say "Chores" in Japanese

家事

kaji[ka̠ʑi]

The English phrase "chores" is translated into Japanese as 家事 (kaji).

家事 refers to routine tasks done to keep a home running and clean.

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the characters 家 (house) and 事 (affair, matter or thing), literally meaning "household affairs."

kaji

In Japan, there is a specific term 名もなき家事 (namonaki kaji) which translates to 'nameless chores'. This refers to the invisible mental labor and tiny tasks, like replacing toilet paper or sorting mail, that aren't listed on official chore charts.
In modern Japanese slang, the pressure to balance 家事 (chores) and 育児 (childcare) has led to the term ワンオペ (wan-ope), short for 'one-operation', describing a parent doing everything alone.
The term 家事 can be used in a legal sense in Japan to describe 'domestic matters' in court, extending far beyond the act of scrubbing floors to include the management of a household's legal and financial status.

彼女は家事をするために外に出た。
She went out to do her chores.
This sentence is useful for showing how to use 家事 when someone is performing chores.
Tatoeba #10588686 by Sonata, translation #7391831 by CH
やらなくちゃならない家事がいくつかあるんだ。
I have some chores to do.
This sentence shows how to express having chores to complete using 家事.
Tatoeba #3449207 by arnab, translation #255038 by CK
家事を放棄したくなる時って、どんな時ですか？
What makes you want to quit your chores?
This sentence demonstrates how to talk about the desire to quit one's 家事.
Tatoeba #10661478 by small_snow, translation #10666361 by DJ_Saidez
彼女は家事をよくこなします。
She is good at household chores.
毎週末に掃除をします。
I do cleaning every weekend.
母は毎日洗濯をしてくれます。
My mother does the laundry every day.
今日は家事がたくさんあるから忙しいんだ。
I'm busy today because I have a lot of chores to do.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

A couple is discussing their weekend plans at home.

美咲 Misaki

今週末は、家事を手伝ってくれる？
Konshūmatsu wa, kaji o tetsudatte kureru?
Will you help me with the chores this weekend?
陽太 Yota

もちろん、美咲。何からすればいい？
Mochiron, Misaki. Nani kara sureba ii?
Of course, Misaki. What should I start with?
美咲 Misaki

掃除機をかけてもらえると助かるわ。
Sōjiki o kakete moraeru to tasukaru wa.
It would be a big help if you could vacuum.
陽太 Yota

了解。任せておいて。
Ryōkai. Makasete oite.
Got it. Leave it to me.

Sources

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