Meaning and Usage
"夫人" (ふじん) is a polite and somewhat formal term used to refer to a wife or a married woman, often translated as "wife," "Mrs.," or "madam." It is commonly used in formal contexts or when showing respect, such as referring to someone's wife in a respectful manner.
Common Contexts
You will often see "夫人" used when talking about the wife of a notable person, such as a company president (社長の夫人) or a public figure. It can also be used in service contexts, like addressing a customer politely as "夫人."
Collocations and Patterns
- 社長の夫人 (しゃちょうのふじん): the company president's wife, showing respect
- 夫人がお見えになる (ふじんがおみえになる): the madam arrives (honorific)
- 夫人にお茶を出す (ふじんにおちゃをだす): to serve tea to the madam/wife
Register and Politeness
"夫人" is more formal and respectful than simply saying "妻" (つま, wife) or "奥さん" (おくさん, wife/madam). It is not commonly used in casual conversation among close friends or family.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "夫人" with "婦人" (also read ふじん), which means "woman" or "lady" in a more general sense. Remember that "夫人" specifically refers to a wife or madam, while "婦人" is broader and often used in contexts like "婦人服" (women's clothing).