やもめ暮ぐらし

や

も

め

ぐ

ら

し

Meanings

1

noun

widowhood; widowerhood; life as a widow/widower

Refers to the state or lifestyle of living as a widow or widower. The term is gender-neutral in modern usage, though the kanji spellings 寡婦 (widow) and 鰥 (widower) are gender-specific.

彼かの女じょは長ながいやもめ暮ぐらしの末すえ、再さい婚こんした。
After a long widowhood, she remarried.
やもめ暮ぐらしにも慣なれてきた。

I've gotten used to living as a widower.

Written forms

やもめ暮ぐらしUsage100%
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling; やもめ is often written in kana.
寡婦やもめ暮ぐらし
Kanji spelling using 寡婦 (widow); less common and may be seen as old-fashioned or formal.
寡暮やもめぐらし
Abbreviated kanji spelling; rare.
寡暮やもめぐらし
Variant of 寡暮らし with 暮し instead of 暮らし; rare.
鰥やもめ暮ぐらし
Kanji spelling using 鰥 (widower); rare and may be seen as old-fashioned or formal.
鰥暮やもめぐらし
Variant of 鰥暮らし with 暮し instead of 暮らし; rare.

Kanji

暮evening, twilight, season's end
寡widow, minority, few
婦lady, woman, wife
鰥

Similar words

やもめ
やもめ is the noun for a widow or widower, while やもめ暮らし refers to the lifestyle or state of being one.
未み亡ぼう人じん
未亡人 is a more formal term for a widow, often used in legal or official contexts, whereas やもめ暮らし is a more everyday expression for the life of a widow/widower.

Etymology

Compound of やもめ (widow/widower) + 暮らし (living, life). The exact origin of やもめ is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese word.

widower, unmarried man