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下婢 (かひ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

下か婢ひ

か

ひ

Meanings

1

noun

servant girl; maidservant

Archaic term for a female servant or maid, used in historical or literary contexts. Not used in modern everyday Japanese.

その屋や敷しきには数すう人にんの下か婢ひが仕つかえていた。
Several servant girls served at that mansion.

Kanji

下below, down, descend
婢maidservant

Similar words

女じょ中ちゅう
Also an older term for a maid or female servant, but more commonly recognized and sometimes still used in historical settings. 下婢 is more literary and rare.
メイド
Modern loanword for 'maid', used in contemporary contexts. 下婢 is archaic and not interchangeable.

Etymology

Compound of 下 (ka, 'low, under') and 婢 (hi, 'female servant'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination directly conveys the meaning of a low-ranking female servant.