家内

Chinese

Japanese

Etymology 1

Literally ‘inside the house’ from the Sino-Japanese (on'yomi) readings of 家 (か, ka, “house”) + 内 (ない, nai, “inside”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

家(か)内(ない) • (kanai) 

1. (humble) (one's own) wife
2. family
3. the inside of the house

Usage notes

• This word should only be used in reference to the speaker’s own wife, whereas 奥さん (okusan) is a polite term used to refer to someone else’s wife.
• 妻 (tsuma) is a more general term for a wife, and can also mean spouse.
• 家内 is offensive to some, literally meaning “in the house”, thus carrying connotations of traditional gender roles; in this case, 妻 is preferred.

Synonyms

• (one’s own wife): (more gender-neutral) 妻(つま) (tsuma)
• (another’s wife): 奥(おく)さん (okusan)
• (family): 家(か)族(ぞく) (kazoku)
• (the inside of the house): 屋(おく)内(ない) (okunai)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

家(や)内(うち) • (yauchi) 

1. the inside of the house
2. people who live in one house

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

家(いえ)内(うち) • (ieuchi) 

1. people who live in one house

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

家(いえ)内(ない) • (ienai) 

1. (rare) people who live in one house