How to say "waitress" in Japanese

• ウェイトレスJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe direct loanword for a waitress, the natural choice in Western-style restaurants and cafés. When the setting is not a traditional Japanese establishment, this is usually the word to reach for.
  きれいなウエイトレスが給仕きゅうじしてくれた。↗

  A pretty waitress waited on us.
• 仲居なかいCommon
  nounRefers specifically to a waitress in a ryokan or traditional restaurant — the women who serve guests in such establishments. It can also mean hostess. For these settings, use this rather than ウェイトレス.
• 女中じょちゅうCommon
  nounCovers a hostess in a ryokan and a waitress in a traditional restaurant, much like 仲居, but it is a sensitive word that calls for care, as it can come across as disparaging.
• 給仕きゅうじJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA general term covering waiter, waitress, waitperson and server, not tied to one gender. A good choice when you want a gender-neutral alternative to ウェイトレス.

Use 「ウェイトレス」 for a waitress in ordinary or Western-style settings, 仲居 and 女中 for serving staff in ryokan and traditional restaurants (女中 with care, as it is sensitive), and 給仕 as a gender-neutral general term.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ウェイトレスwaitress
• 仲居なかいwaitress (in a ryokan or traditional restaurant)
• 女給じょきゅうwaitress
• サービスガールwaitress
• 酌婦しゃくふbarmaid
• 接客婦せっきゃくふhostess
• 給仕人きゅうじにんwaiter
• 女中じょちゅうhostess (in a ryokan)
• 給仕きゅうじwaiter