Translation guide
In Japanese, referring to someone's wife depends on whose wife it is and the social context. For your own wife, use humble terms; for someone else's wife, use respectful terms. Pronouns like 'his' are often omitted when clear from context.
When speaking about another person's wife in a polite or neutral context.
The most common and polite way to refer to someone else's wife. Can be used with or without a name.
田中さんの奥さんは料理が上手ですね。
Tanaka's wife is good at cooking, isn't she?
奥さんによろしくお伝えください。
Please give my regards to your wife.
More formal and respectful than 奥さん. Often used in business or formal settings.
社長の奥様はとても上品な方です。
The company president's wife is a very elegant person.
Formal term for 'wife', often used in writing or news. Attached to the husband's name.
鈴木夫人は慈善活動に積極的です。
Mrs. Suzuki is active in charity work.
Literally 'bride' or 'daughter-in-law', but can colloquially mean 'wife'. Can sound rough or dialectal when referring to someone else's wife.
Using 嫁 for someone else's wife can be considered impolite or too familiar. Safer to use 奥さん.
あいつの嫁はすごくきれいだ。
His wife is really beautiful.
When speaking about your own wife to others, especially in formal or polite situations.
The standard humble term for one's own wife. Used in both formal and neutral contexts.
妻は今、買い物に出かけています。
My wife is out shopping right now.
A traditional humble term meaning 'inside the house'. Slightly old-fashioned but still used, especially by older men.
A humble term for one's own wife, often used among close friends or in casual settings. Can sound rough or old-fashioned.
In Japanese, possessive pronouns like 'his' are often omitted when the context makes it clear whose wife is being discussed.
If it's clear from context that you're talking about a specific person's wife, you can simply say 奥さん without 彼の (his).
奥さんは元気ですか？
How is your wife? (or his wife, depending on context)
When you need to specify whose wife, use the person's name or title + の + 奥さん.
彼の奥さんは医者です。
His wife is a doctor.
山田さんの奥さんに会いました。
I met Yamada's wife.
When asking about someone's wife, use 奥さん, not 妻. 妻 is humble and only for your own wife. Saying あなたの妻 sounds unnatural and can be rude.
奥さんはお元気ですか？
How is your wife?
奥さん is respectful, used for someone else's wife. 妻 is humble, used for your own wife. Mixing them up can cause confusion or offense.
My wife is always indebted to you.
うちの女房がうるさくてね。
My wife is so naggy.