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:

私は彼女を称する。

Watashi wa kanojo o shōsuru

I call her my girlfriend.

I call her.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - Topic particle
• 彼女 - noun "girlfriend"
• を - direct object particle
• 称する - verb "to call oneself"

私は彼女を思う。

Watashi wa kanojo wo omou

I think of it.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 彼女 - Japanese noun that means "girlfriend" or "she"
• を - Japanese particle indicating the direct object of the sentence, in this case "she"
• 思う - Japanese verb meaning "think" or "feel"

私は彼女に詫びる必要があります。

Watashi wa kanojo ni wazabiru hitsuyō ga arimasu

I need to apologize to her.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 彼女 - Japanese noun meaning "girlfriend"
• に - Japanese particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case "to her"
• 詫びる - Japanese verb meaning "to apologize"
• 必要 - Japanese noun meaning "need"
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• あります - Japanese verb meaning "to have", in the sense of "need to have"

私は彼女の側にいたいです。

Watashi wa kanojo no soba ni itai desu

I want to be by her side.

I want to be with her.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 - Japanese noun that means "girlfriend" or "she"
• の - Japanese particle indicating possession, in this case, "my girlfriend's"
• 側 - Japanese noun meaning "side" or "someone's side"
• に - Japanese particle that indicates the action of directing something or someone, in this case, "being next to"
• いたい - form of the Japanese verb "iru" which indicates desire or will, in this case, "to want to be"
• です - Japanese verb that indicates to be or to be, in this case, it is used to make the sentence more formal

私は彼女の服装がとても素敵だと思います。

Watashi wa kanojo no fukusō ga totemo suteki da to omoimasu

I think her clothes are very beautiful.

I think her clothes are really cool.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 - Japanese noun meaning "she"
• の - Japanese particle that indicates possession, in this case, "hers."
• 服装 - Japanese noun meaning "clothing" or "clothes"
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "clothing"
• とても - Japanese adverb that means "very"
• 素敵 - Japanese adjective meaning "beautiful" or "cool"
• だ - Japanese verb that indicates the existence or identity of the subject, in this case, "is"
• と - Japanese particle that indicates a direct quotation of what was said or thought, in this case, "to think"
• 思います - Japanese verb that means "to think" or "to believe"

私は彼女の見方が好きです。

Watashi wa kanojo no mikata ga suki desu

I like the way she sees things.

I like her view.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 - Japanese noun that means "girlfriend" or "she"
• の - Japanese particle indicating possession or relationship between two things
• 見方 - Japanese noun meaning "point of view" or "way of seeing"
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 好き - Japanese adjective meaning "to like" or "to be pleasant"
• です - Japanese verb indicating the polite or formal form of the present simple

私は彼女に恋する。

Watashi wa kanojo ni koi suru

I'm in love with her.

I fell in love with her.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 - Japanese noun meaning "she" or "girlfriend"
• に - Japanese particle that indicates the target or recipient of the action
• 恋する - Japanese verb meaning "to fall in love"

私は彼女に全てを打ち明けた。

Watashi wa kanojo ni subete o uchiakeru ta

I told her everything.

I told her everything.

• 私 - personal pronoun meaning "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I".
• 彼女 - noun meaning "girlfriend" or "her" in Japanese.
• に - particle that indicates the recipient of the action, in this case, "to her".
• 全て - adverb meaning "all" or "completely" in Japanese.
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "everything".
• 打ち明けた - verb meaning "confess" or "reveal" in Japanese, conjugated in the past tense.

私は彼女の優しさを見習いたいです。

Watashi wa kanojo no yasashisa o minaraitai desu

I want to learn from her kindness.

I want to imitate your kindness.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 彼女 - noun meaning "she" or "girlfriend" in Japanese
• の - possession particle indicating that "優しさ" belongs to "彼女"
• 優しさ - noun meaning "kindness" or "friendliness" in Japanese
• を - object particle indicating that "優しさ" is the direct object of the action
• 見習いたい - verb meaning "to want to learn" or "to want to follow" in Japanese, conjugated in the affirmative present tense
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or polished form of the sentence, equivalent to the verb "ser" in Portuguese

私は彼女の愛を感じる。

Watashi wa kanojo no ai wo kanjiru

I feel her love.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 彼女 - The noun that means "she" in Japanese is "彼女" (kanojo).
• の - possessive particle that indicates that "love" belongs to "her"
• 愛 - The noun that means "love" in Japanese is "愛" (ai).
• を - direct object particle that indicates that "love" is the object of the action
• 感じる - The verb that means "to feel" in Japanese is "感じる" (kanjiru).