夫
ottostandard, own husband
The standard word for husband in Japanese is 夫 (otto). People also say 主人 (shujin) or 旦那 (danna) about their own husband. For another person's husband, use ご主人 (goshujin).
Meaning: a married man in relation to his spouse (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 夫 | otto | standard, own husband |
| 主人 | shujin | polite, own husband |
| 旦那 | danna | casual, own husband |
| ご主人 | goshujin | polite, someone else's husband |
夫 (otto) is neutral and works in writing and speech. 旦那 (danna) is common in casual talk with friends. 主人 (shujin) is polite but some people now avoid it.
Which one should you use?
Use ご主人 (goshujin) or 旦那さん (dannasan) when asking about a friend's husband. Do not use 夫 (otto) for someone else's husband.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Calling your own husband ご主人 (goshujin) is a mistake, because the ご shows respect and is kept for other people.
Did you know?
- The word 旦那 (danna) comes from a Sanskrit word for a donor or patron and was once used for a lord or a customer.
Examples in context
- 夫は会社員です。Otto wa kaishain desu.My husband is an office worker.
- うちの旦那はよく料理します。Uchi no danna wa yoku ryōri shimasu.My husband cooks often.
Example conversation
Emi chats with her neighbor Mrs. Tanaka outside their apartment.
- Mrs. Tanakaご主人はお元気ですか。Goshujin wa ogenki desu ka.Is your husband well?
- Emiはい、夫は元気です。Hai, otto wa genki desu.Yes, my husband is well.
- Mrs. Tanakaそれはよかったです。Sore wa yokatta desu.I am glad to hear that.
