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【No. 0939】Oku-san (奥さん)

Jul 14, 2017 17:37
Japanese people often refers to other's wife as "oku-san" (奥さん).

The literal meaning of "oku" (奥) is a deep inside of something, or a place that is far from the entrance.

Because of this, it has come to mean a room far from the entrance, furthermore, a person (woman) living there.

"San" of "oku-san" is a polite suffix that is often added to a person's name.

If you want to express it more polite, you can say "oku-sama" (奥様) by adding "sama" (様) instead of "san."

This word comes from the fact that people considered that women should be in a room that is far from the entrance.

However, note that "oku" (奥) is not a word that put women down.

In fact, the adjective "okuyukashii" (奥ゆかしい), which uses "oku," is a praise term for almost all Japanese women.
奥さん

日本語では、他人の妻のことを「奥さん」と言うことがよくあります。

「奥」はもともと、内部へ深く入ったところや、入り口から離れた場所のことを指します。

そこから、入り口から遠い部屋やそこに住む人を指すようになりました。

「奥さん」の「さん」は人名などに付ける丁寧の接尾語で、より丁寧な表現として「奥様」のように「様」をつけることもあります。

この言葉は、日本では奥に住むのは女性という認識があったことに由来します。

ただ、「奥」という言葉は決して女性を卑下したものではありません。

事実、「奥ゆかしい」という「奥」を使った言葉は、多くの女性にとって褒め言葉です。

Corrections (1)

No. 1 ctakemoto
  • Japanese people often refers to other's wife as "oku-san" (奥さん).
  • Japanese people often refers to others' wives as "oku-san" (奥さん).
  • The literal meaning of "oku" (奥) is a deep inside of something, or a place that is far from the entrance.
  • The literal meaning of "oku" (奥) is a deep inside of something, or a place that is far from the entrance.
  • Because of this, it has come to mean a room far from the entrance, furthermore, a person (woman) living there.
  • Because of this, it has come to mean a room far from the entrance, or furthermore, a person (woman) living there.
  • "San" of "oku-san" is a polite suffix that is often added to a person's name.
  • The "san" of "oku-san" is a polite suffix that is often added to a person's name.
  • If you want to express it more polite, you can say "oku-sama" (奥様) by adding "sama" (様) instead of "san."
  • If you want to express it more politely, you can say "oku-sama" (奥様) by adding "sama" (様) instead of "san."
  • This word comes from the fact that people considered that women should be in a room that is far from the entrance.
  • This word comes from the fact that people considered thought that women should be in a room that is far from the entrance.
  • However, note that "oku" (奥) is not a word that put women down.
  • However, please note that "oku" (奥) is not a word that puts women down.
  • In fact, the adjective "okuyukashii" (奥ゆかしい), which uses "oku," is a praise term for almost all Japanese women.
  • In fact, the adjective "okuyukashii" (奥ゆかしい), which uses "oku," is a praise term for considered a compliment by almost all Japanese women.

I had a co-worker whose last name is 奥, I was really confused at first why everyone was talking about someone's wife before I realized they were talking about my co-worker.

Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! :)
> I had a co-worker whose last name is 奥,
Haha, it's interesting. I would be also confused if I was in your situation.

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