メイド
meido[me̞ido̞]
The English word 'maid' can be translated into Japanese as either メイド (meido) or 女中.
Meaning: female servant or cleaner (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| メイド | meido | [me̞ido̞] (narrow) |
| 女中 | jochū | [d͡ʑo̞t͡ɕɨː] (narrow) |
The term メイド is a loanword used for modern Western-style domestic service and is also frequently used in pop culture to refer to the specific aesthetic of 'maid cafes' (メイドカフェ』).
Which one should you use?
メイド is a modern loanword, whereas 女中 is a more traditional and older way to refer to a female domestic worker. Because 女中 is an older term, it can feel dated or even slightly derogatory depending on the context.
How do you pronounce it?
meido
When do people say it?
In modern Japanese pop culture, the term メイド is very closely associated with the 'maid cafe' phenomenon.
Did you know?
- In the context of 'maid cafes', employees are often addressed as 'Goshujin-sama' (Master) or 'Ojou-sama' (Lady), turning the standard social hierarchy on its head through roleplay.
- In historical Japanese literature, female domestic workers were often referred to as お手伝いさん (otetsudai-san), a term that focuses on the act of 'helping' rather than the person's status.
- If you use the older term 女中 (nochū) in a modern city, people may mistake you for someone speaking in a period drama or a historical novel set in the Edo or Meiji eras.
Examples in context
- ホテルのメイドとしてパートで仕事していましたが、その仕事はあまり好きではありませんでした。I had a part-time job as a hotel maid, but I didn't like it very much.This sentence is useful for describing a previous part-time job as a hotel メイド.Tatoeba #196202 by bunbuku, translation #33379 by CK
- Meido-san ga kaisha ni kita. (メイドさんが会社に来た)The maid came to the office.
- Kazoku no meido ga ryōri ga umai. (家族のメイドが料理がうまい)The family's maid is skilled at cooking.
- 彼女はメイドの格好をしています。Kanojo wa meido no kakkou o shite imasu.She is wearing a maid outfit.
- メイドが部屋を掃除しています。Meido ga heya o souji shite imasu.A maid is cleaning the room.
Example conversation
At a themed cafe in Tokyo.
- 結衣 Yuiあのメイドさんはとても可愛らしいですね。Ano meido-san wa totemo kawairashii desu ne.That maid is very cute, isn't she?
- 健太 Kenta本当ですね、彼女の笑顔が素敵です。Hontou desu ne, kanojo no egao ga suteki desu.You're right, her smile is lovely.
- 結衣 Yui健太さんも、彼女に挨拶しましょう。Kenta-san mo, kanojo ni aisatsu shimashou.Kenta, why don't you greet her too?
- 健太 Kenta少し緊張しますが、やってみます。Sukoshi kinchou shimasu ga, yatte mimasu.I'm a little nervous, but I'll try.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maid” translations and entries メイド, 女中, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
