Translation guide
The English term 'old maid' can refer to a card game, a spinster, or a type of cake. This guide covers the most common Japanese expressions for each meaning.
The card game 'Old Maid' where players try to avoid being left with the odd card.
The standard Japanese name for the card game Old Maid. Literally 'drawing the old woman'.
ババ抜きをしよう。
Let's play Old Maid.
An older unmarried woman, often with a negative connotation.
A direct loanword from English, commonly used in Japanese to mean an older unmarried woman. Can carry a negative nuance.
彼女はオールドミスと呼ばれるのを嫌がっている。
She hates being called an old maid.
A traditional Japanese term for a woman who remains unmarried past the usual age. Literally 'a widow who never went (to her husband)'. Somewhat dated and literary.
Literally 'unsold goods', used metaphorically for an unmarried woman. Can be very rude and offensive.
A type of cake, often a simple butter cake or a fruitcake.
A loanword from English, used to refer to a specific type of cake, often a butter cake or fruitcake. Not as common as the card game meaning.
このオールドミスケーキは祖母のレシピです。
This old maid cake is my grandmother's recipe.
Direct translations like 古いメイド (furui meido) are not used and will not be understood. Use オールドミス or describe the situation instead.
彼女は結婚していない。
She is not married.
彼女は行かず後家として一生を終えた。
She lived out her life as an old maid.
This term is derogatory and should be avoided in polite conversation.
彼女は売れ残り扱いされるのが嫌だ。
She hates being treated like an old maid.