Japanese word

奉公

Pronunciation

Romajihōkō

昔は多くの子どもが奉公に出ました。mukashi wa ō ku no ko do mo ga hō kō ni de ma shi ta

In the past, many children went into live-in domestic service.

彼は五年間の奉公を終えて、故郷に戻りました。kare wa go nen kan no hō kō o o e te ko kyō ni modo ri ma shi ta

He returned to his hometown after completing five years of service.

Describes entering another household to live and work under its authority, often while learning a trade.

住み込みsumikomi: Living at the place of employment as part of a work arrangement.

他人の家に住み込み、家事や仕事をしながら仕えること。ta nin no ie ni su mi ko mi ka ji ya shi goto o shi na ga ra tsuka e ru ko to

The Sino-Japanese compound 奉公 (hōkō) combines 奉 (hō, "serve") and 公 (kō, "public" or "lord"), expressing service to a lord or household.

In historical Japan, children and young people sometimes entered a household, shop, or workshop through 奉公 (hōkō) and lived there while working.