女
彼女は優しい女です。
She is a kind woman.
an adult female human
この会社には多くの女が働いています。
Many women work at this company.
彼女は女優として有名です。
She is famous as an actress.
Can also refer to female animals in some contexts, but this is less common.
a girl or young female
あの女の子は誰ですか？
Who is that girl?
Often used in combination with other words (e.g., 女の子).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Politeness levels
Use 女性 (josei) or 女の人 (onna no hito) for adult women in formal or polite contexts. 女 is more casual and may sound blunt.
Gold Rule
Avoid using 女 alone for strangers
In everyday speech, avoid using 女 to refer to an unknown woman, as it can sound impolite. Use 女性 or 女の人 instead.
Word Origin
From Old Japanese *me* (女, 'woman'), ultimately from Proto-Japonic *me (女). The kanji 女 was borrowed from Chinese (女, 'woman') during the Heian period.
Usage Notes
The word 女 is neutral but can sound blunt or impolite in some contexts, especially when referring to adult women. More polite alternatives include 女性 (josei) or 女の人 (onna no hito). In formal writing, 女性 is preferred.