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How to say 'Wife' in Japanese | 家内

Wondering how to say 'Wife' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Wife is 'Kanai', written as 家内 in Japanese.'Wife' in hiragana is かない.

    word

    家内

    Meaning

    Wife

    Reading

    かない

    kanai

    Kanji

    House Inside

    Explanation

    The Japanese noun '家内 (かない)' is a polite and somewhat old-fashioned term used to refer to one's own wife. It is often used in formal or traditional contexts. The word literally translates to 'inside the house,' reflecting the historical context where women were primarily associated with domestic roles. However, its usage has declined in modern times, with '妻 (つま)' or '奥さん (おくさん)' being more common. Example sentences: My wife is kind「家内は優しいです」(かないはやさしいです). I will discuss this with my wife「家内と相談します」(かないとそうだんします).

    Part Of Speech

    noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N3

    Kanji Grade

    2

    Frequency

    518

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 家内

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    Meaning

    House

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Inside

Words Related to 家内 Through the Kanji

These 22 Words contain the Kanji 家 as well.

  • word

    Meaning

    House

  • word

    家族

    Meaning

    Family

  • word

    国家

    Meaning

    Nation

  • word

    家庭

    Meaning

    Family, Home

  • word

    家賃

    Meaning

    Rent

  • word

    作家

    Meaning

    Writer

  • word

    家出

    Meaning

    Runaway

  • word

    大家

    Meaning

    Landlord

  • word

    家屋

    Meaning

    House

  • word

    家計

    Meaning

    Budget, Household

  • word

    実家

    Meaning

    Home, Parents

  • word

    我が家

    Meaning

    Home

  • word

    政治家

    Meaning

    Politician

  • word

    一家

    Meaning

    Family

  • word

    農家

    Meaning

    Farmer, Farmhouse

  • word

    家事

    Meaning

    Housework

  • word

    画家

    Meaning

    Painter

  • word

    家主

    Meaning

    Landlord

  • word

    専門家

    Meaning

    Expert

  • word

    家具

    Meaning

    Furniture

  • word

    家臣

    Meaning

    Retainer

  • word

    武家

    Meaning

    Samurai

Words Related to 家内 Through the Kanji

These 22 Words contain the Kanji 内 as well.

  • word

    Meaning

    Inside

  • word

    内容

    Meaning

    Content

  • word

    国内

    Meaning

    Domestic

  • word

    案内

    Meaning

    Guidance

  • word

    内部

    Meaning

    Inside

  • word

    内閣

    Meaning

    Cabinet

  • word

    市内

    Meaning

    City

  • word

    以内

    Meaning

    Within

  • word

    内側

    Meaning

    Inside

  • word

    室内

    Meaning

    Indoors

  • word

    社内

    Meaning

    In company

  • word

    その内

    Meaning

    Soon

  • word

    体内

    Meaning

    Inside body

  • word

    都内

    Meaning

    Tokyo

  • word

    内面

    Meaning

    Inside, Inner

  • word

    内科

    Meaning

    Internal medicine

  • word

    内臓

    Meaning

    Internal organs

  • word

    境内

    Meaning

    Precincts

  • word

    内陸

    Meaning

    Inland

  • word

    内緒

    Meaning

    Secret

  • word

    内心

    Meaning

    Innermost

  • word

    内外

    Meaning

    Inside outside, Domestic foreign

Learn the Word 家内

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What does 'Kanai' (家内) mean?

'Kanai' means 'Wife' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.