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:

私は彼女に話し掛けた。

Watashi wa kanojo ni hanashikakeru ta

I talked with 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) - pronoun that means "she"
に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case "for her"
話し掛けた (hanashikaketa) - verb that means "to speak with," conjugated in the past

私は友達を励ますために彼女にエールを送ります。

Watashi wa tomodachi o hagemasu tame ni kanojo ni ēru o okurimasu

I send an encouragement message to my friend to encourage her.

I send her a beer to encourage my friends.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that the subject is "I"
友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, indicating that "friend" is the object of the action
励ます (hagemasu) - verb meaning "to encourage"
ために (tameni) - expression that indicates the purpose of the action, in this case "to encourage the friend"
彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "she"
に (ni) - particle indicating the recipient of the action, in this case "she" is the recipient of the encouragement
エール (eeru) - noun meaning "support" or "encouragement"
を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, indicating that "support" is the object of the action
送ります (okurimasu) - verb meaning "to send"

私は彼女に尽くすことを決めました。

Watashi wa kanojo ni tsukusu koto o kimemashita

I decided to dedicate myself to her.

I decided to do my best.

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 that means "girlfriend"
に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case "for my girlfriend"
尽くす (tsukusu) - A verb that means "to dedicate oneself," "to serve," or "to treat with care."
こと (koto) - noun that means "thing," used to transform the verb into a noun
を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the action, in this case "the dedication"
決めました (kimemashita) - verb that means "to decide," conjugated in the past, indicating that the action has already been completed.

王女は美しいです。

Oujo wa utsukushii desu

The princess is beautiful.

王女 - "oujo" - means "princess"
は - wa- Topic particle
美しい - "utsukushii" - means "beautiful"
です - desu - polite way of "being"

気品あふれる女性は魅力的です。

Kihin afureru josei wa miryokuteki desu

A woman full of elegance is attractive.

The elegant woman is attractive.

気品 (kibun) - refinement, elegance
あふれる (afureru) - overflow, be full of
女性 (josei) - woman
は (wa) - Topic particle
魅力的 (miryokuteki) - attractive, charming
です (desu) - polite way of being

彼女の美しさには呆れるばかりだ。

Kanojo no utsukushisa ni wa akireru bakari da

I am impressed by her beauty.

彼女 - her in Japanese
の - Particle of possession, indicating that "she" is the owner of something.
美しさ - "beauty" in Japanese
には - particle that indicates focus or emphasis
呆れる - "to be surprised" or "to be amazed" in Japanese
ばかり - particle that indicates that something is "only" or "just"
だ - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is in the present

彼女を苦しめることは許されない。

Kanojo wo kurushimeru koto wa yurusarenai

It is not allowed to cause suffering to it.

It is not allowed to afflict it.

彼女 - her in Japanese
を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
苦しめる - causar sofrimento
こと - Abstract noun in Japanese
は - Japanese topic particle
許されない - "não é permitido" in Japanese

彼女は彼を縛ることができる。

Kanojo wa kare wo shibaru koto ga dekiru

She can tie it.

She can arrest him.

彼女 - "kanojo" means "she" in Japanese.
は - "wa" is a topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence.
彼 - "kare" means "he" in Japanese.
を - "wo" is a particle for the object in Japanese, used to indicate the direct object of the sentence.
縛る - "shibaru" means "to tie" in Japanese.
こと - "koto" is a nominal particle in Japanese, used to turn a verb into a noun.
が - "ga" is a subject particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence.
できる - "dekiru" means "to be able to" in Japanese.
. - The period indicates the end of the sentence.