男性

• Reading: だんせい
• Romaji: dansei
• Kanji breakdown: 男 (dan/otoko) — man, male; 性 (sei/shou) — nature, gender
• Pronunciation: /da.n.se.i/

Meaning

A man; a male. The formal or neutral term for a male person.

More formal and objective than 男 (otoko), which can sound blunt. Used in official contexts, surveys, signs (e.g., 男性用トイレ), and polite conversation. The pair 男性/女性 is the standard way to refer to gender in Japanese.

Examples

1. あの男性は誰ですか。 Who is that man?
2. 男性用のトイレはあちらです。 The men's restroom is over there.
3. このクラスは男性が多いです。 This class has a lot of male students.

Usage Guide

Context: official forms, polite conversation, descriptions

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 男 (dan/otoko, man) and 性 (sei, nature/gender). A Sino-Japanese compound literally meaning 'male nature/gender.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal