女性

• Reading: じょせい
• Romaji: josei
• Kanji breakdown: 女 (jo/onna) — woman, female; 性 (sei/shou) — nature, gender
• Pronunciation: /d͡ʑo.se.i/

Meaning

A woman; a female. The formal or neutral term for a female person.

More polite and formal than 女 (onna), which can sound blunt or rude depending on context. Used in official settings, media, and polite conversation. The pair 男性/女性 is standard for referring to gender. 女性用 (josei-you) means 'for women.'

Examples

1. あの女性はとても親切でした。 That woman was very kind.
2. 女性のお客様が多いお店です。 It's a shop with a lot of female customers.
3. この会社は女性の社員が増えています。 The number of female employees is increasing at this company.

Usage Guide

Context: official forms, polite conversation, media

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 女 (jo/onna, woman) and 性 (sei, nature/gender). A Sino-Japanese compound literally meaning 'female nature/gender.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal