Japanese word

使用人

Pronunciation

Romajishiyōnin

Meaning

  • nounservant

Example

彼はその家の使用人です。kare wa so no ie no shi yō nin de su

He is a servant in that household.

Illustration for 使用人 (servant)

More examples

その作家は、使用人の視点から物語を描きました。so no sak ka wa shi yō nin no shi ten ka ra monogatari o ega ki ma shi ta

The author wrote the story from the perspective of a servant.

Core concept

Refers to someone hired to perform everyday tasks for a household or an individual with greater authority.

Common phrases

  • 使用人を雇うshi yō nin o yato u

    hire a servant

  • 使用人の待遇shi yō nin no tai gū

    treatment of servants

Similar words

召使いmeshitsukai: A person employed to serve in a household, often by performing domestic duties.
家政婦kaseifu: A woman employed to clean and manage a private household.
奉公人hōkōnin: A person hired to serve a household or a master, especially in the past.

Definition in Japanese

他人に雇われて、その家事や用事を受け持つ人。ta nin ni yato wa re te so no ka ji ya yō ji o u ke mo tsu hito

Word origin

使用人 (shiyōnin) joins 使用 (shiyō, "use") with 人 (nin, "person"), a structure that presents the person as one employed for another's use.

Usage tips

  • English descriptions of historical households often use servant for a live-in worker, a role that differs from a modern employee who works regular shifts.

Other meanings

  • employeenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word