ご主人

• Reading: ごしゅじん
• Romaji: goshujin
• Kanji breakdown: 主 (shu/nushi) — master, lord; 人 (jin/hito) — person
• Pronunciation: /ɡo.ɕɯ.d͡ʑiɴ/

Meaning

Someone else's husband. A polite way to refer to another person's spouse.

The honorific ご (go) is attached to 主人 (shujin, master/husband) to create a respectful form used when referring to someone else's husband. Not used for one's own husband — for that, 主人 or 夫 (otto) is used instead. Also used to address a shop owner.

Examples

1. ご主人はお元気ですか。 Is your husband doing well?
2. 田中さんのご主人は医者です。 Mrs. Tanaka's husband is a doctor.
3. ご主人によろしくお伝えください。 Please give my regards to your husband.

Usage Guide

Context: polite conversation, greetings, social situations

Tone: polite

Origin & History

From 主人 (shujin), literally 'master' or 'head of household.' The kanji 主 means master/lord and 人 means person. The honorific prefix ご makes it appropriate for referring to others' husbands.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal