Japanese word

お手伝いさん

Pronunciation

Romajiotetsudaisan

Meaning

  • nounmaid

Example

その家にはお手伝いさんがいます。so no ie ni wa o te tsuda i sa n ga i ma su

There is a maid in that house.

Illustration for お手伝いさん (maid)

More examples

週に三日、お手伝いさんに来てもらっています。shū ni mik ka o te tsuda i sa n ni ki te mo ra tte i ma su

I have a maid come three days a week.

Core concept

Refers to a person employed to help with household tasks such as cleaning and cooking.

Common phrases

  • お手伝いさんを雇うo te tsuda i sa n o yato u

    hire a maid

  • お手伝いさんに来てもらうo te tsuda i sa n ni ki te mo ra u

    have a maid come

Similar words

家政婦kaseifu: A person hired to manage household work, often in a formal or professional role.
家事手伝いkajitetsudai: A person who helps with household tasks, without necessarily having a formal professional role.
女中jochū: An old-fashioned term for a female domestic worker hired to do household tasks.

Definition in Japanese

家庭で掃除や料理などの家事をするために雇われた人。ka tei de sō ji ya ryō ri na do no ka ji o su ru ta me ni yato wa re ta hito

Word origin

お手伝い (otetsudai, "helping") combines with さん (san, a polite title) to form a respectful term for someone who helps with household work.

Usage tips

  • The Japanese term お手伝いさん (otetsudai-san) does not by itself indicate that the household worker lives in the home, although the English word maid can suggest that arrangement.

Word lists with this word