家政婦|かせいふkaseifu

1. nounhousekeeper; maid
   彼かれは家政婦かせいふに部屋へやを掃除そうじさせた。↗

   He had the maid sweep his room.

• Synonymお手伝いおてつだいNeutralCovers both the act of helping and a woman hired for housework; more of an everyday word, while 「家政婦」 is the job title.
• Synonymお手伝いさんおてつだいさんNeutralA woman hired to help with housework in the home; said in a friendly, everyday tone, while 「家政婦」 sounds more like a job title.
• SynonymメイドNeutralLoanword for a maid in a Western-style household, also a hotel room attendant; for the housework occupation 「家政婦」 is the usual choice.
• Synonym女中じょちゅうNeutralOld word for a woman who lived in an employer's home or an inn doing chores; mostly avoided now — say 「家政婦」, or 「仲居」 for inn staff.
• Related小間使いこまづかいWrittenOld word for a maid kept close at hand to run small errands for the master; more about personal attendance than 「家政婦」, and rare today.
• Related下女げじょWrittenOld word for a maid doing cooking and odd jobs, with a nuance of low status; avoid it today and use 「家政婦」 for the occupation.
• Related下婢かひWrittenArchaic written word for a low-ranking maidservant with hierarchical overtones; not used today — say 「家政婦」 for a housework helper.
• Related端女はしためWrittenArchaic term for a lowly female servant, tinged with contempt; no longer used, and unlike 「家政婦」 it is not a job title.
• Antonym主人しゅじんNeutralThe head of a household or the employing side, the opposite of the hired 「家政婦」; can also mean one's husband or a shop owner.
• Antonym主あるじWrittenMaster or head of a household, with an old-fashioned tone found mostly in written prose; stands opposite 「家政婦」 in the employer-worker relation.
• Antonym雇い主やといぬしNeutralThe party who employs someone, the opposite of the employed 「家政婦」; not limited to households — company employers are called this too.

Use 「家政婦」 as the job title for a woman hired to do housework. For everyday, friendly speech say 「お手伝いさん」; 「お手伝い」 is the casual word and can also mean helping itself. 「メイド」 covers Western-style maids and hotel room attendants. Old terms like 「女中」 and 「下女」 are best avoided, and 「小間使い」「下婢」「端女」 are archaic. The opposite side is 「主人」 or 「雇い主」.

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

1. その家いえの人ひとに代かわって家事かじを行おこなうことを仕事しごとにしている女性じょせい。