How to Call My Husband in Japanese 

There are several ways to call “husband” in Japanese. When calling the other person’s husband and calling your own husband, the usage is slightly different, so let’s use it correctly according to the situation.

主人 Shujin /ʃudʒin/

If you are having a conversation with someone of higher status, it is appropriate to use “shujin”.

This is a commonly used expression and a word that represents hierarchical or master-servant relationships. While some people avoid using it due to its negative connotations, it is still a commonly used phrase and is considered a polite expression.

The word “shujin” in context means “head of the household” or “the person one serves.” When used to refer to a husband, it is a polite way of referring to a husband, emphasizing his role as the head of the household.

As there is a word 女主人 (onna shujin), it can also be used to refer to a woman.

ご主人 Goshujin /goʃudʒin/

When you talk about someone’s husband, attach ご/go/ at the beginning of “shujin”. That is the polite way to call Other people’s husbands. But please note that if you call “goshujin” to your husband, that sounds strange to Japanese people. We don’t put ご to “my husband”.

夫 Otto

“Otto” refers to the male partner in a marriage. It is common to use “otto” when indicating the relationship on official documents or in the workplace.

The term “otto” can be used to refer to one’s own husband or to the husband of a third party who is not present. However, it is not appropriate to refer to someone else’s husband as “otto” when speaking to them. While “otto” is used in official documents, it is not an official term for speaking. Rather, it is used in private use.

旦那 Danna

“Danna” is a word used in private among close relationships. On the other hand, it is important to note that this word cannot be used in formal settings, so be careful when using them with people of higher status.

Furthermore, the term “danna” can mean “the term used by a servant to refer to their master” or “the term used by a male shopkeeper to refer to their male customers”. It can also have connotations of a patron who provides financial support.

Also, when you talk about someone’s husband, attaching さん (san) or さま (sama) is common like, 旦那さん (dannna san), 旦那さま (danna sama).

亭主 Teishu /teiʃu/

“Teishu” is a word used in private among close relationships as the same as “Danna”. On the other hand, it is important to note that this word cannot be used in formal settings. “Teishu” has meanings such as “innkeeper, teahouse owner” and “head of household”. As “Teishu” is also a respectful term, it is not used when speaking to someone of higher status.