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

Related words

貴女

anata

you; madam

女房

nyoubou

wife

長女

choujyo

Oldest daughter

女史

jyoshi

IN.

女性

jyosei

woman

女優

jyoyuu

actress

女王

jyoou

Queen

彼女

kanojyo

she; girlfriend; darling

女の子

onnanoko

girl

女の人

onnanohito

woman

女

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

Translation / Meaning: woman

Meaning in English: woman

Definition: About women. Feminine gender.

Quick Access
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences

How to Write in Japanese - (女) onna

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (女) onna:

Example Sentences - (女) onna

See below some example sentences:

彼女を空港まで見送った。

Kanojo wo kuukou made miokutta

I accompanied her to the airport.

I saw her at the airport.

彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
を (wo) - Direct object particle in Japanese
空港 (kuukou) - It means "airport" in Japanese.
まで (made) - particle that indicates a limit or endpoint in Japanese
見送った (miokutta) - verb that means "to accompany to the exit" in Japanese, in the past

彼女は突然部屋から飛び出した。

Kanojo wa totsuzen heya kara tobidashta

She ran out of the room suddenly.

Suddenly, she jumped out of the room.

彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
突然 (totsuzen) - adverb meaning "suddenly" in Japanese
部屋 (heya) - means "room" in Japanese
から (kara) - particle indicating origin or starting point in Japanese
飛び出した (tobidashita) - verb meaning "jumped" or "ran" in Japanese

彼女に贈り物をする。

Kanojo ni okurimono wo suru

I will give her a gift.

Give her a gift.

彼女 (kanojo) - "Namorada" significa "彼女" (かのじ, kanojo) em japonês.
に (ni) - a particle indicating the recipient of the action, in this case, "to"
贈り物 (okurimono) - It means "present" in Japanese.
を (wo) - a particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "do"
する (suru) - a verb that means "do"

彼女と付き合うのは楽しいです。

Kanojo to tsukiau no wa tanoshii desu

It's fun hanging out with her.

彼女 (kanojo) - "Namorada" significa "彼女" (かのじ, kanojo) em japonês.
と (to) - a particle that indicates someone's company, in this case, "with"
付き合う (tsukiau) - a verb meaning "to date" or "to have a relationship"
のは (no wa) - a particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "about"
楽しい (tanoshii) - an adjective meaning "fun" or "pleasant"
です (desu) - a particle indicating the polite form of the verb "to be"

彼女を苛めるのは悪いことだ。

Kanojo wo ijimeru no wa warui koto da

It's wrong to bully a girl.

It's bad to catch her.

彼女 (kanojo) - means "girlfriend" or "she" in Japanese
を (wo) - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
苛める (ijimeru) - verb meaning "bullying" or "intimidating" in Japanese
のは (no wa) - Japanese topic particle
悪い (warui) - Adjective meaning "bad" or "evil" in Japanese.
こと (koto) - Noun that means "thing" or "fact" in Japanese.
だ (da) - verb "to be" in Japanese

彼女に強いることはできない。

Kanojo ni shiiru koto wa dekinai

I can't force her.

彼女 (kanojo) - means "girlfriend" or "she" in Japanese
に (ni) - a particle that indicates the target or recipient of the action, in this case, "to her"
強いる (shiiru) - a verb that means "to force" or "to impose"
こと (koto) - a particle that indicates an action or event, in this case, "the action of forcing"
は (wa) - a particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "about the action of forcing"
できない (dekinai) - a verb that means "to be unable to do something"

彼女の気立てはとても優しいです。

Kanojo no kidate wa totemo yasashii desu

Your apprentices are very kind.

彼女 (kanojo) - means "girlfriend" or "her"
の (no) - possessive particle, indicates that "kanojo" is the subject of the sentence
気立て (kidate) - means "personality" or "temperament"
は (wa) - topic particle, indicates that "kidate" is the topic of the sentence
とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
優しい (yasashii) - adjective meaning "gentle" or "kind"
です (desu) - Verb "to be" in polite form

彼女に出くわすのは毎日のことだ。

Kanojo ni dekuwasu no wa mainichi no koto da

Meeting her is something that happens every day.

It's to find her every day.

彼女 (kanojo) - means "girlfriend" or "her"
に (ni) - particle that indicates the target or recipient of the action
出くわす (dekawasu) - verb that means "to find" or "to encounter"
のは (no wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
毎日 (mainichi) - The adverb that means "every day" or "daily"
のこと (no koto) - expression that means "thing of"
だ (da) - verb that indicates existence or affirmation

彼女の心は狂っている。

Kanojo no kokoro wa kurutte iru

Your heart is crazy.

彼女 - her in Japanese
の - possessive particle in Japanese, indicating that "heart" belongs to "her"
心 - "coração" in Japanese
は - topic particle in Japanese, indicating that "heart" is the main subject of the sentence
狂っている - "crazy" in Japanese, indicating the current state of "her" "heart"

彼女との交際はとても楽しいです。

Kanojo to no kousai wa totemo tanoshii desu

My relationship with my girlfriend is a lot of fun.

Dating with her is a lot of fun.