Translation guide
A housemaid is a female domestic worker who cleans and maintains a private home. In Japanese, the most common and natural term is 家政婦 (かせいふ), but other words exist depending on context, formality, and whether the worker lives in the home.
The most common, neutral way to refer to a female domestic worker employed in a private home.
The standard word for a housemaid or housekeeper. It implies a professional domestic worker, often employed through an agency. Can be used for both live-in and live-out arrangements.
家政婦を雇っています。
We employ a housemaid.
彼女は家政婦として働いています。
She works as a housemaid.
A polite and somewhat old-fashioned term for a housemaid or domestic helper. Often used for a live-in maid who helps with housework and sometimes childcare. It has a softer, more personal nuance than 家政婦.
子供の頃、家にお手伝いさんがいました。
When I was a child, we had a housemaid at home.
Loanword from English 'maid'. Often associated with Western-style maids in anime, manga, or maid cafes, but can also refer to a real housemaid in modern, casual contexts. Less formal than 家政婦.
彼女はメイドとして働いている。
She works as a maid.
An older term for a live-in female servant or housemaid, common in pre-war Japan. Now considered dated and sometimes classist. Mainly encountered in historical contexts or literature.
その屋敷には女中が何人もいた。
There were several housemaids in that mansion.
Specifically a housemaid who resides in the employer's home.
Literally 'live-in housemaid'. This phrase clarifies that the housemaid lives in the employer's house.
住み込みの家政婦を探しています。
We are looking for a live-in housemaid.
A polite way to refer to a live-in housemaid, using the softer term お手伝いさん.
彼女は住み込みのお手伝いさんです。
She is a live-in housemaid.
A housemaid who comes to clean on a schedule, not living in the home.
Literally 'cleaning woman'. This term specifically refers to a woman hired to do cleaning, often on a part-time or contract basis. It is more focused on the cleaning aspect than general housekeeping.
週に一度、掃除婦が来ます。
A cleaning lady comes once a week.
Loanword from English 'housekeeper'. Often used in modern contexts, especially for part-time or professional cleaning services. Can be gender-neutral but often implies a female worker.
ハウスキーパーを頼んで家をきれいにしてもらった。
I hired a housekeeper to clean the house.
家政婦 is the most neutral and professional term, suitable for formal contexts and agency work. お手伝いさん is softer and more personal, often used in family settings or when referring to a long-term helper. メイド is casual and may carry connotations of anime or maid cafes, so use with care in serious contexts.
While メイド is understood, it can sound like a costume character or a maid cafe worker. For a real domestic worker, 家政婦 or お手伝いさん is safer.