仲居・中居|なかいnakai[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Which spelling to use
仲居仲居 is the common written form for a waitress or hostess in a ryokan or traditional restaurant; use it when writing this meaning.
中居中居 is a rarely used variant written entirely in kanji; learners will seldom need to choose it when referring to a waitress or hostess.
Definitions
  1. nounwaitress (in a ryokan or traditional restaurant); hostess
Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymウェイトレスNeutralKatakana loanword from English, neutral in register; the everyday word for a waitress, but it does not carry the traditional-ryokan nuance of 仲居.

Use ウェイトレス for waitresses in ordinary or Western-style restaurants; use 仲居 only for women serving guests in a ryokan or traditional Japanese restaurant.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 江戸えど城じょう、大名だいみょう屋敷やしきの奥おくの部屋へやで勤仕きんしする女性じょせいが詰つめた部屋へや。また、その女性じょせい。
  2. 江戸えど時代じだい、商家しょうかなどで奥おくの女中じょちゅうと下女げじょの間あいだで使用しようされた女性じょせい。
  3. 料理屋りょうりやなどで客きゃくを接待せったい、世話せわをする女性じょせい。
  4. 民家みんかなどで台所だいどころに続つづく、主婦しゅふが普段ふだんいる場所ばしょ。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

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