Translation and Meaning of: 女 - onna

The Japanese word 女[おんな] is a fundamental term for anyone learning the language or interested in Japanese culture. Its direct meaning is "woman," but there are interesting nuances in its usage, writing, and origin that are worth exploring. In this article, we will unravel everything from the composition of the kanji to how this word is used in everyday Japanese, including tips for memorization and curiosities based on reliable sources.

If you have already used the Suki Nihongo dictionary, you know that understanding a word goes beyond the literal translation. With 女[おんな], it's no different. Here, we will dive into the details that make this term so relevant, from its etymology to practical examples that help solidify the vocabulary. Get ready to discover why this word is so prevalent in Japanese and how to use it correctly.

Meaning and writing of 女[おんな]

The kanji 女 represents the idea of "woman" or "female" and is one of the oldest characters in the Japanese language. Its most common reading is おんな (onna), but it can also be read as じょ (jo) or にょ (nyo) in compounds, such as in 女子[じょし] (girl) or 女性[じょせい] (woman, in the sense of gender). The isolated form 女[おんな] is primarily used to refer to an adult woman, often with a colloquial or even informal tone.

Interestingly, the kanji 女 has a pictographic origin that dates back to ancient China. It derives from a stylized drawing of a kneeling woman, a common representation in ancient writing. This visual connection can aid in memorization, especially for those who are starting to study kanji. In modern Japan, this character appears in various everyday words, ranging from formal documents to song lyrics and dialogues in animes.

Everyday use and cultural nuances

Although 女[おんな] simply means "woman," its use carries nuances depending on the context. In informal situations, it can be used alone, as in "あの女[おんな]は誰？" (Who is that woman?). However, in more polite or formal contexts, the Japanese generally prefer terms like 女性[じょせい] or 婦人[ふじん], which sound more respectful. This difference is crucial to avoid misunderstandings in real conversations.

In pop culture, 女[おんな] frequently appears in song titles, dramas, and even character names. A famous example is the song "女[おんな]の子は誰でも" by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, which plays with the idea of femininity. It is worth noting that, although the term is not offensive in itself, the tone and intonation can completely change its perception — something that can only be learned through exposure to the language in daily life.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

One of the best ways to memorize 女[おんな] is to associate it with compound words you already know. For example, 女の子[おんなのこ] (girl) or 女優[じょゆう] (actress). Creating flashcards with these combinations helps expand vocabulary while reinforcing the main kanji. Another strategy is to pay attention to radicals — 女 is one of the most recognizable and appears in other kanjis such as 姉[あね] (older sister) and 妹[いもうと] (younger sister).

To practice, try to identify 女 in signs, packaging, or even in scenes from doramas. In Japan, this kanji can be found in women's restrooms, clothing stores, and even on menus (such as in 女将[おかみ], restaurant owner). The more you encounter it in the real world — or in authentic content — the more natural your recognition and use will become. And when in doubt, the Suki Nihongo dictionary can be a helpful ally to check example sentences and pronunciations.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 女性 (Josei) - Woman (general)
• 女子 (Joshi) - Girl / Young girl (usually young or a teenager)
• 婦女 (Fujo) - Woman (more formal or archaic usage)
• 女性人口 (Josei jinkou) - Female population
• 女の人 (Onna no hito) - Female person
• 女の子 (Onna no ko) - Girl (child)
• 女子供 (Woshikodo) - Girl
• 女性の方 (Josei no kata) - Woman (more respectful)
• 女性の方々 (Josei no katagata) - Women
• 女性たち (Josei-tachi) - Women
• 女性陣 (Josei-jin) - Group of women
• 女性社員 (Josei shain) - Female employee
• 女性職員 (Josei shokuin) - Female employee (public office holder)
• 女性従業員 (Josei juugyouin) - Female employee
• 女性労働者 (Josei roudousha) - Female worker
• 女性選手 (Josei senshu) - Female athlete
• 女性アーティスト (Josei aatisuto) - Female artist
• 女性作家 (Josei sakka) - Writer
• 女性研究者 (Josei kenkyuusha) - Researcher
• 女性教師 (Josei kyoushi) - Teacher
• 女性医師 (Josei ishi) - Doctor
• 女性看護師 (Josei kango-shi) - nurse
• 女性弁護士 (Josei bengoshi) - attorney
• 女性経営者 (Josei keiei-sha) - Businesswoman
• 女性政治家 (Josei seijika) - Women's politics

女

Romaji: onna
Kana: おんな
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: woman

Meaning in English: woman

Definition: About women. Feminine gender.

Example Sentences - (女) onna

See below some example sentences:

私は彼女のような強い女性に憧れています。

Watashi wa kanojo no you na tsuyoi josei ni akogarete imasu

I admire strong women like her.

I long for a strong woman like her.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - personal pronoun meaning "she"
• の (no) - particle indicating possession, in this case "hers"
• ような (youna) - expression meaning "like" or "similar to"
• 強い (tsuyoi) - adjective meaning "strong"
• 女性 (josei) - noun meaning "woman"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the target of the action, in this case "to"
• 憧れています (akogareteimasu) - verb meaning "to admire" or "to have admiration for", conjugated in the present tense and polite

私は彼女との再会を待ち望んでいます。

Watashi wa kanojo to no saikai o machinozonde imasu

I am anxiously waiting for the reunion with her.

I'm waiting for me to find her again.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "girlfriend" or "her"
• と (to) - particle that indicates the connection between "I" and "she", in this case, "with"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "of the"
• 再会 (saikai) - noun meaning "gathering" or "meeting"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "to wait"
• 待ち望んでいます (machinozondeimasu) - verb that means "to wait eagerly"

私は彼女に愛を告げた。

Watashi wa kanojo ni ai o tsugeru

I declared my love to her.

I told her love.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "her" or "girlfriend"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the addressee of the action, in this case "to her"
• 愛 (ai) - noun meaning "love"
• を (wo) - particle indicating the direct object of the action, in this case, "love"
• 告げた (tsugeta) - verb meaning "to declare" or "to confess", conjugated in the past tense

私は彼女を慕っています。

Watashi wa kanojo wo shitau shiteimasu

I admire her.

I long for it.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "her" or "girlfriend"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 慕っています (shitatteimasu) - verb meaning "to adore" or "to have affection for" conjugated in the present continuous

私は彼女の健康を案じています。

Watashi wa kanojo no kenkō o anjite imasu

I'm worried about her health.

I'm thinking about your health.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - personal pronoun meaning "she"
• の (no) - Particle that indicates possession
• 健康 (kenkou) - noun that means "health"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 案じています (anzjiteimasu) - verb that means "to be worried" and is conjugated in the educated present continuous

私は彼女に仕えることを決めました。

Watashi wa kanojo ni tsukaeru koto o kimemashita

I decided to serve her.

I decided to serve it.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "her" or "girlfriend"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case, "for her"
• 仕える (tsukaeru) - The word is "serve" or "work for"
• こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or event, in this case, "to serve"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "to serve"
• 決めました (kimemashita) - verb that means "decide" in the past, in this case, "I decided (to serve her)"

私は彼女の愛を感じます。

Watashi wa kanojo no ai wo kanjimasu

I feel her love.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• の (no) - possessive particle in Japanese, used to indicate that "love" belongs to "her"
• 愛 (ai) - It means "love" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate that "love" is the direct object of the sentence
• 感じます (kanjimasu) - The verb in Japanese that means "to feel" is "感じる" (kanjiru).

私は彼女に愛を授けました。

Watashi wa kanojo ni ai o sazukemashita

I gave her love.

I gave her love.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• に (ni) - target particle in Japanese, used to indicate the recipient of the action
• 愛 (ai) - It means "love" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate the direct object of the action
• 授けました (sazukemashita) - verb meaning "to give" or "to grant" in Japanese, in the past tense and polite

私は彼女に会うときはいつもどきどきしています。

Watashi wa kanojo ni au toki wa itsumo dokidoki shiteimasu

I always get anxious when I find her.

I always throb when I know it.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 彼女 (kanojo) - It means "she" or "girlfriend" in Japanese.
• に (ni) - destination particle in Japanese
• 会う (au) - verb that means "to find" or "to meet" in Japanese.
• とき (toki) - noun that means "time" or "moment" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• いつも (itsumo) - adverb that means "always" in Japanese
• どきどき (dokidoki) - onomatopoeia that represents the sound of a heart beating fast, used to express nervousness or anxiety in Japanese
• しています (shiteimasu) - present form of the verb "suru" which means "to do" in Japanese

私は彼女の悲しみに同情します。

Watashi wa kanojo no kanashimi ni dōjō shimasu

I empathize with her sadness.

I sympathize with her sadness.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 悲しみ (kanashimi) - It means "sadness" in Japanese.
• に (ni) - particle that indicates action or direction
• 同情します (doujou shimasu) - means "sympathize" or "have compassion" in Japanese