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女性
josei
woman
彼女は優しい女性です。
She is a kind woman.
general
An adult human female.
この会社には多くの女性社員がいます。
This company has many female employees.
Refers to adult human females in general contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Gender-Neutral Alternatives
In contexts where gender neutrality is preferred, '人' (person) or '方' (person) may be used instead of specifying '女性' or '男性'.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
'女性' is the formal and polite term, while '女' is more casual and can be seen as less respectful in some contexts.
Word Origin
From 女 (woman) + 性 (gender/sex).
Usage Notes
In modern Japanese, '女性' is the standard term for 'woman' in both formal and informal contexts. '女' is more colloquial and can sometimes be perceived as less polite.
Word Breakdown
女
woman
root性
gender/sex
suffix和英辞典