女生

• Pinyin: nǚ shēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 女 = pictograph of a woman; 生 = a plant sprouting from the ground, meaning life or birth

Meaning

Female student; girl. Refers to female students or young women in general.

Originally meant 'female student' but is now commonly used to refer to young women in general, even outside school settings. Considered a polite and neutral way to refer to young women. More formal and respectful than 女孩儿.

Examples

1. 我们班有十五个女生。 There are fifteen girls in our class.
2. 那个女生是新来的。 That girl is new here.
3. 女生们都很喜欢这首歌。 The girls all really like this song.

Usage Guide

Context: school, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们学校的女生很多。(There are many girls at our school.)
• 那个女生跑得很快。(That girl runs very fast.)

Don't Say

• 对四五十岁的女性说女生。(Don't call middle-aged women 女生 — it's mainly for young women and students)

Origin & History

A compound of 女 (female) and 生 (student/life), originally meaning 'female student.'

Cultural Context

Generation: Young adults

Social background: Universal