son-in-law

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 婿 refers to a son-in-law or bridegroom; its kun-reading is むこ.
• Basic usage: 婿(むこ) means a son-in-law or groom, while 婿養子(むこようし) means an adopted son-in-law.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A groom at a wedding and an adopted son-in-law
  • In the wedding example, 婿 refers to the groom standing beside the bride to greet guests. The same word identifies a son-in-law in a family relationship.
  • 婿養子 means a son-in-law who is also adopted into the family. Adding 養子 to 婿 makes the family relationship more specific.