夫婦
fūfu[ɸɯ̟ːɸɯ̟]
The English phrase "married couple" is translated into Japanese as 夫婦 (fūfu), the default form. Wiktionary also lists 夫妻 (fusai).
Meaning: two people who are married to each other (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 夫婦 | fūfu | [ɸɯ̟ːɸɯ̟] (narrow) [me̞o̞to̞] (narrow) |
| 夫妻 | fusai | [ɸɯ̟sa̠i] (narrow) [o̞to̞me̞] (narrow) |
The term describes two people who are married to each other.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 夫婦 is composed of the characters for husband (夫) and wife (婦).
Which one should you use?
夫婦 is the standard, neutral term used in everyday conversation. In contrast, 夫妻 is a formal term used when referring to a specific married couple, often in professional or respectful contexts, similar to how one might say "Mr. and Mrs. [Name]" in English.
How do you pronounce it?
fūfu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 夫婦 can also refer specifically to the 'husband and wife' as a pair of objects or matching sets, such as 夫婦箸 which are matching chopsticks for a couple.
- The term 夫婦 is used in the name of a famous traditional sweet, 夫婦善哉, which is red bean soup served with mochi. Eating this sweet is a way to symbolically celebrate or wish for a happy marriage.
- Modern Japanese speakers may use the loanword パートナー instead of 夫婦 to describe their relationship. This avoids the strict gender binary inherent in the characters for 'husband' and 'wife'.
Examples in context
- 私達は夫婦です。We're a married couple.This sentence is useful for stating that we are a married couple using 夫婦.Tatoeba #151293 by small_snow, translation #1003906 by CK
- 夫婦二人三脚で、このお店を切り盛りしてきました。The married couple was able to run this store with their seamless teamwork.This sentence uses 夫婦 to describe how a couple ran a store through teamwork.Tatoeba #10032335 by small_snow, translation #11153375 by watta
- たまには夫婦水入らずで温泉に行ってのんびりするのもいいもんだ。Sometimes it's good for a married couple to go to a hot spring together, just the two of them.This sentence uses 夫婦 to suggest a couple enjoying a hot spring together alone.Tatoeba #203281 by small_snow, translation #40517 by papabear
- 彼らは素晴らしい夫婦です。They are a wonderful married couple.
- めおとの仲がとても良いですね。The married couple has a wonderful relationship, don't they?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiroto and Misaki are talking about their neighbors.
- 大翔 Hiroto隣の夫婦はいつも仲がいいね。Tonari no fūfu wa itsumo naka ga ii ne.The married couple next door always get along well.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だね。見ていると微笑ましくなるよ。Hontō da ne. Mite iru to hohoemashiku naru yo.You're right. It's heartwarming to watch them.
- 大翔 Hiroto僕たちもあんな夫婦になりたいね。Bokutachi mo anna fūfu ni naritai ne.I want us to become a married couple like that too.
- 美咲 Misakiふふっ、もう十分いい夫婦だよ。Fufu, mō jūbun ii fūfu dayo.Hehe, we are already a great married couple.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “married couple” translations and entries 夫婦, 夫妻, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
