家内

• 読み: かない
• ローマ字: kanai
• 漢字の分解: 家 (ka/ie) — house, home; 内 (nai/uchi) — inside, within
• 発音: /ka.na.i/

意味

One's own wife (humble). A humble term used by a man to refer to his own wife when speaking to others.

A humble (謙譲語, kenjōgo) term for referring to one's own wife in conversation with others. More traditional than 妻 (tsuma), which is now the more common neutral term. Considered somewhat old-fashioned by younger generations. Should not be used to refer to someone else's wife — use 奥さん (okusan) instead.

例文

1. 家内は今、買い物に出かけています。
2. 家内が作った料理をどうぞ。
3. 家内と一緒に旅行に行きました。

使い方ガイド

場面: business, polite conversation, introductions

トーン: humble

起源と歴史

Compound of 家 (ka/ie, house/home) and 内 (nai/uchi, inside/within). Literally means 'inside the house,' reflecting the historical expectation that wives managed the household.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: Middle-aged and older

社会的背景: Universal