女

• Reading: おんな
• Romaji: onna
• Kanji breakdown: 女 (onna/jo) — woman, female
• Pronunciation: /oɴ.na/

Meaning

Woman; female. A general term for an adult female person.

The basic word for 'woman' or 'female' in Japanese. Can be used as a standalone noun or as a prefix (女友達 = female friend). The more formal equivalent is 女性 (josei). In modern usage, 女性 is preferred in polite or professional contexts.

Examples

1. あの女の人はきれいですね。 That woman over there is beautiful, isn't she?
2. 女の先生が英語を教えています。 A female teacher is teaching English.
3. 姉は強い女になりたいと言っています。 My older sister says she wants to become a strong woman.

Usage Guide

Context: describing people, daily life, general conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 女 is a pictograph of a kneeling figure with arms crossed, one of the oldest Chinese characters. It has been used since ancient times to represent females.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal