女の子

• Reading: おんなのこ
• Romaji: onnanoko
• Kanji breakdown: 女 (onna) — woman, female; 子 (ko) — child
• Pronunciation: /oɴ.na.no.ko/

Meaning

Girl; female child. Used for young girls.

A compound expression combining 女 (woman/female) with の子 (child of). Refers to girls typically from infancy through early teens. For older females, 女性 (josei) or 女 (onna) is more appropriate. Follows the same pattern as 男の子.

Examples

1. あの女の子はピアノが上手です。 That girl is great at piano.
2. 女の子が花を持っています。 A girl is holding flowers.
3. クラスに女の子が十五人います。 There are fifteen girls in the class.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, talking about children, family

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A compound of 女 (onna, 'female') + の (possessive/descriptive particle) + 子 (ko, 'child'). A straightforward descriptive construction meaning 'child who is female.'

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal