お一人様

おひとりさま
Alternative writings: お一人さま, 御一人様
Frequency:
1

An honorific term for a single person/customer (e.g., 'one person' used politely in restaurants or services).

NounHonorific or Respectful (Sonkeigo) Language

Examples

いらっしゃいませ。お一人様ですか、カウンターにどうぞ。

Welcome. Are you dining alone? Please sit at the counter.

このプランはお一人様料金が別途かかります。

This plan charges an additional single-person fee.

温泉ではお一人様専用の時間帯があります。

The hot spring has time slots reserved for single visitors.

2

Colloquially, a (somewhat derogatory) term for an unmarried, childless older woman — used in a pejorative or self-mocking way in some contexts.

NounColloquial

Examples

彼女は自分のことを冗談めかして『お一人様』と言った。

She jokingly referred to herself as a 'single lady (o-hitori-sama)'.

雑誌の記事で『お一人様』ライフを特集していたが、扱い方に賛否がある。

A magazine featured single-lady lifestyles, but the way it was treated drew both praise and criticism.

Word Relationships

Derivations