Translation guide
A woman financially supported by a lover, typically in exchange for a romantic or sexual relationship. Japanese has several nuanced terms depending on formality, exclusivity, and social context.
The most common meaning: a woman in an ongoing extramarital or non-marital relationship where the man provides financial support, often including housing and an allowance.
General term for a mistress or lover, often implying financial support. Can be used for both men and women, but context usually clarifies. Neutral to slightly negative connotation.
He bought his mistress an apartment.
Traditional term for a concubine or kept mistress, often with historical or old-fashioned nuance. Still used in modern contexts to emphasize the financial dependency and secondary status.
I hear he keeps a mistress.
Colloquial, slightly dated term for a mistress, literally 'number two'. Implies she is secondary to the wife. Often used in gossip or light-hearted contexts.
I heard the company president has a mistress.
A younger woman who receives financial support or gifts from an older man in exchange for companionship or intimacy, often without the expectation of a long-term committed relationship.
Still the most common term, but can also cover sugar-baby relationships when financial support is clear.
She lives as a patron's mistress.
Modern slang for a sugar baby or someone engaged in 'papa-katsu' (sugar daddy dating). Emphasizes the transactional nature.
In historical contexts, a woman who was officially recognized as a secondary wife or concubine, often in aristocratic or samurai households.
Formal term for a concubine in historical contexts, especially for nobility or shoguns. Not used for modern relationships.
The shogun had multiple concubines.
Also used historically, but can appear in modern literary or dramatic contexts.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'kept woman' in all contexts. Using 愛人 is the safest general choice, but be aware it can also mean 'lover' without financial implications. Context is key.
愛人 is the modern, neutral-to-slightly-negative term for a mistress. 妾 is old-fashioned and emphasizes dependency. 二号さん is colloquial and often implies the woman is a 'second wife' in all but name. Choose based on the nuance you want to convey.
She gets 300,000 yen a month from her sugar daddy.
彼は妾を正式に側室とした。
He formally made his mistress a concubine.