使用人
shiyōnin[ɕijo̞ːɲ̟ĩɴ]
The Japanese word for servant is 使用人 (shiyōnin), which is the default form. Wiktionary also lists 召使い (meshitsukai).
Meaning: one who is hired to perform regular household or other duties, and receives compensation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 使用人 | shiyōnin | [ɕijo̞ːɲ̟ĩɴ] (narrow) |
| 召使い | meshitsukai | [me̞ɕi̥t͡sɨka̠i] (narrow) |
The term refers to someone hired to perform regular household or other duties in exchange for compensation. Depending on the context, you may use different terms to describe a servant, a domestic helper, an apprentice or a polite assistant.
Which one should you use?
使用人 is a more formal, administrative term often used in legal or professional contexts to refer to a domestic employee. In contrast, 召使い has a more descriptive, sometimes derogatory or archaic connotation and is often used in literature to describe someone performing menial tasks. Other related terms include 奉公人, which is a formal term for a servant in an apprenticeship or hierarchical relationship and お手伝いさん, which means helper or assistant.
How do you pronounce it?
shiyōnin
Did you know?
- While 使用人 refers to a hired employee, the term 召使い comes from the verb 召す, which is an honorific word for 'to call' or 'to summon'.
- Historically, the status of a servant in Japan was often indicated by their hairstyle and clothing, which served as a visual 'label' similar to a uniform.
- Unlike the English 'servant', which is mostly a noun, the concept of serving others in Japanese often uses the verb 仕える (tsukaeru), which carries a heavy connotation of lifelong loyalty.
Examples in context
- 召使いのように振舞っていると、召使いのように扱われるぞ。If you behave like a servant, you'll be treated like a servant.This sentence is useful for illustrating how behavior can lead to being treated a certain way using the form 召使い.Tatoeba #942830 by thyc244, translation #942841 by CK
- 私の家には一人の使用人がいます。There is one servant in my house.
- 彼は伯爵家の奉公人です。He is a servant in the Earl's household.
- ゴン家の召使いはとても優れている。The servants at the Gon household are excellent.
- 私のお手伝いさんはすごく頼りになる。My helper is very reliable.
- 彼はその屋敷の使用人です。Kare wa sono yashiki no shiyōnin desu.He is a servant of that mansion.
- 使用人の給料はいくらですか？Shiyōnin no kyūryō wa ikura desu ka?How much is the servant's salary?
Example conversation
At a large estate, discussing staff members.
- 蓮 Renこの屋敷には何人の使用人がいますか？Kono yashiki ni wa nannin no shiyōnin ga imasu ka?How many servants are in this mansion?
- 陽葵 Himari使用人は全部で十人います。Shiyōnin wa zenbu de jūnin imasu.There are ten servants in total.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんは、彼らの仕事を知っていますか？Himari-san wa, karera no shigoto o shitte imasu ka?Himari, do you know their jobs?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、すべて把握しています。Hai, subete haaku shite imasu.Yes, I have a grasp on everything.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “servant” translations and entries 使用人, 召使い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
