夫人

What it means

What does 夫人 mean? It denotes a married woman and is used as a formal, respectful term for a wife or for addressing a woman in polite contexts. In contemporary Japanese it appears primarily in writing, biographies, or ceremonial language; in casual speech speakers typically use 妻 or 奥さん.

Main meanings

• Formal term for a wife or married woman in written or ceremonial contexts.
• Used as an honorific title for a woman in formal speech, equivalent to madam.
• In historical or ceremonial settings, can refer to a noblewoman or the wife of a high-ranking person.

How to use it

Used in formal writing, biographies, news reporting about individuals, and ceremonial language to refer to a married woman; not common in casual conversation; when referring to one's wife in everyday talk, use 奥さん or 妻; in historical texts it can denote a woman of status.