家内

Chinese

For pronunciation and definitions of 家内 – see 家內 (“wife”). (This term is the simplified form of 家內).

Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
家	内
か Grade: 2	ない Grade: 2
on’yomi

Alternative spelling
家內 (kyūjitai)

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ka̠na̠i]

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

Kanji in this term
家	内
や Grade: 2	うち Grade: 2
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
家內 (kyūjitai)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ja̠ɯ̟ᵝt͡ɕi]

Noun

家(や)内(うち) • (yauchi) 

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

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
家	内
いえ Grade: 2	うち Grade: 2
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
家內 (kyūjitai)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ie̞ɯ̟ᵝt͡ɕi]

Noun

家(いえ)内(うち) • (ieuchi) 

1. people who live in one house

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
家	内
いえ Grade: 2	ない Grade: 2
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
家內 (kyūjitai)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ie̞na̠i]

Noun

家(いえ)内(ない) • (ienai) 

1. (rare) people who live in one house