主人

• Reading: しゅじん
• Romaji: shujin
• Kanji breakdown: 主 (shu/nushi) — master, main; 人 (jin/hito) — person
• Pronunciation: /ɕɯ.dʑiɴ/

Meaning

Husband; head of a household; proprietor; master. Used to refer to one's own husband or the owner of a business.

Traditionally used by wives to refer to their own husbands in polite speech. Also means the owner or proprietor of a shop or restaurant. Some younger speakers prefer 夫 (otto) as a more equal-sounding alternative. When referring to someone else's husband, ご主人 (goshujin) with the honorific prefix is standard.

Examples

1. 主人は今、仕事に行っています。 My husband has gone to work.
2. この店の主人はとても面白い人です。 The owner of this restaurant is a really interesting person.
3. 主人と一緒に旅行に行きました。 I went on a trip with my husband.

Usage Guide

Context: family, social conversation, business

Tone: polite

Origin & History

Composed of 主 (shu, 'master/main') and 人 (jin, 'person'). Originally meant 'the main person' of a household or establishment.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal