女優

• Reading: じょゆう
• Romaji: joyuu
• Kanji breakdown: 女 (jo) — woman, female; 優 (yuu) — actor, superior
• Pronunciation: /dʑo.jɯː/

Meaning

Actress. A woman who performs in movies, television, or theatre.

A noun specifically referring to a female actor. The male counterpart is 俳優 (actor) or 男優 (male actor). In modern Japanese, 俳優 is increasingly used as a gender-neutral term, but 女優 remains common in media, awards, and entertainment industry contexts.

Examples

1. あの女優は演技がとても上手だ。 That actress is a really talented performer.
2. 彼女は子供の頃から女優になりたかった。 She wanted to be an actress ever since she was a kid.
3. 人気女優が新しいドラマに出演する。 A popular actress is starring in a new drama.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, media, daily conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 女 (woman, female) and 優 (actor, superior, gentle). The kanji 優 carries the meaning of performer, making 女優 literally 'female performer.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal