男
otokonoun★Beginner
formal
man; male
彼は強い男だ
He is a strong man.
男の子
boy
💡
Can refer to adult males or boys, depending on context.
informal
husband
私の男
My husband
💡
Used informally to refer to one's husband.
Collocations
男の子boy男性male男性的masculine
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
男手一丁phrase
all men (no women present)
男前phrase
handsome man
💡Pro Tip
Gender-Specific Usage
'男' is strictly gender-specific. For gender-neutral terms, use '人' (hito) or '方' (kata).
⚡Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
Use '男性' (dansei) in formal contexts, while '男' (otoko) is more casual.
📖Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 'nan' meaning 'male', originally from Proto-Sino-Tibetan.
📝Usage Notes
In modern Japanese, '男' is often used in compound words and can refer to both adult men and boys. The polite term for 'man' is '男性' (dansei).
Word Breakdown
男
male
root和英辞典