Translation guide
The husband of one's daughter. Japanese has distinct terms depending on whose son-in-law is being referred to, and the choice reflects social perspective and politeness.
Referring to the husband of your own daughter when speaking to someone outside your family.
Standard humble term for one's own son-in-law. Used when talking about him to non-family members.
娘婿は銀行員です。
My son-in-law is a banker.
A shorter, common term for son-in-law, often used within the family or in casual contexts. Can also mean 'bridegroom' in other contexts.
うちの婿は料理が上手なんです。
Our son-in-law is good at cooking.
Referring to the husband of someone else's daughter, or when speaking politely about a son-in-law.
Polite form of 'musumemuko'. Used when referring to another person's son-in-law.
田中さんの娘婿さんは医者だそうですね。
I hear Mr. Tanaka's son-in-law is a doctor.
Polite term for son-in-law, often used when addressing or referring to someone else's son-in-law directly.
お婿さんはどちらにお勤めですか。
Where does your son-in-law work?
Describing the relationship without specifying whose perspective, or in formal writing.
Literally 'daughter's husband'. A neutral, descriptive phrase that avoids the in-group/out-group nuance.
彼は私の娘の夫です。
He is my daughter's husband.
Formal, literary term for son-in-law. Rarely used in everyday conversation.
彼はその会社の女婿として知られている。
He is known as the son-in-law of that company's founder.
A man who marries into a family and is adopted as the family's son, often to carry on the family name or business.
A son-in-law who is legally adopted into the wife's family. Common in traditional family businesses.
彼は婿養子として家業を継いだ。
He took over the family business as an adopted son-in-law.
English 'son-in-law' is a single term, but Japanese requires you to choose based on social context. Using 'musuko' (son) is incorrect; always use a term that specifies the marriage relationship.
When talking about your own son-in-law to outsiders, use humble terms like 'musumemuko' or 'muko'. When referring to someone else's son-in-law, add polite prefixes like 'o-' or '-san'.
娘婿は今出張中です。
My son-in-law is on a business trip now.
お婿さんはお元気ですか。
How is your son-in-law?