Translation and Meaning of: 彼女 - kanojyo

The Japanese word 彼女 (かのじょ) is an essential term for anyone learning the language or interested in Japanese culture. Its main meaning is "she" or "girlfriend," depending on the context, and its use permeates from everyday conversations to cultural productions such as animes and dramas. In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and practical uses of this word, as well as curiosities that help to understand its relevance in the Japanese language.

Understanding 彼女 goes beyond simple translation. Knowing when and how to use it can prevent misunderstandings, especially as it carries important cultural nuances. If you've ever wondered why the Japanese use this word in certain situations or how to memorize it effectively, keep reading to find out!

Meaning and usage of 彼女 (かのじょ)

彼女 is a versatile word that can mean both "she" and "girlfriend". Context is crucial to define which meaning is being used. In sentences like 彼女は学生です (Kanojo wa gakusei desu), the most common translation is "She is a student". On the other hand, in dialogues like 彼女がいますか？ (Kanojo ga imasu ka?), the meaning changes to "Do you have a girlfriend?".

This duality can confuse beginners, but with practice, it becomes easier to distinguish the uses. It is worth noting that when referring to "girlfriend," 彼女 is more informal and everyday, while terms like 恋人 (koibito) may sound more formal or poetic. The frequent use in anime and popular songs also reinforces its presence in the daily lives of Japanese people.

Origin and writing of 彼女

The composition of 彼女 is interesting for those studying kanji. The first character, 彼 (kare), means "he" or "that," while 女 (onna/jo) represents "woman." Together, they form the idea of "that woman," which evolved into the current meanings. This structure is common in Japanese, where combinations of kanji create words with specific nuances.

It is worth noting that 彼女 emerged as a modern adaptation to refer to women in the third person, something that old Japanese did not clearly have. Before the Meiji period, the language did not have a widely established feminine pronoun, and 彼女 was incorporated under Western influence, becoming standard over time.

Tips for memorizing and using 彼女 correctly

An effective way to memorize 彼女 is to associate it with everyday situations. For example, imagine a dialogue where someone asks about another person's girlfriend. Phrases like 彼女は優しいです (Kanojo wa yasashii desu – "She/my girlfriend is kind") help to internalize the double meaning in a natural way.

Another tip is to pay attention to the suffixes and particles that accompany the word. When 彼女 (kanojo) is followed by particles like は (wa) or が (ga), it usually indicates "she." In possessive constructions, such as 私の彼女 (watashi no kanojo), the meaning tends to be "my girlfriend." Watching authentic content, such as doramas, also exposes the learner to real uses of the expression.

Curiosities about 彼女 in Japanese culture.

"Kanojo" frequently appears in song lyrics and anime titles, reflecting its importance in the language. Popular songs, such as "Kanojo wa Kureeshon" (彼女はクレーショ), showcase how the word is artistically used. Furthermore, in romantic narratives, it often defines central relationships in the plot.

An important cultural aspect is that in Japan, asking 彼女はいますか？ (Kanojo wa imasu ka?) can be considered intrusive depending on the context. Japanese people tend to avoid very personal questions in casual conversations, so it's good to use this expression with caution, especially with recent acquaintances.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 彼女 (Kanojo) - She, girlfriend
• 女友 (Onna-yuu) - Female friend can refer to a girlfriend depending on the context.
• 恋人 (Koibito) - Lover, boyfriend/girlfriend
• 伴侶 (Hanryo) - Partner, spouse, emphasis on a more formal relationship
• 女性 (Josei) - Woman, more general term
• 女子 (Joshi) - Girl, young woman, can also be used in informal contexts or with children.
• 女子供 (Joshi-kodom) - Girl
• 彼女さん (Kanojo-san) - Respectful way to refer to a girlfriend or partner

彼女

Romaji: kanojyo
Kana: かのじょ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: she; girlfriend; darling

Meaning in English: she;girl friend;sweetheart

Definition: A person who has a close relationship with a woman, or with the woman.

Example Sentences - (彼女) kanojyo

See below some example sentences:

彼女は突然現われた。

Kanojo wa totsuzen arawareta

She appeared suddenly.

She suddenly appeared.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 突然 (totsuzen) - adverb meaning "suddenly" or "suddenly"
• 現われた (arawata) - verb meaning "appeared" or "arose"

彼女は私の誘いを拒否した。

Kanojo wa watashi no sasoi o kyohi shita

She declined my invitation.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 私の (watashi no) - "Meu" in Japanese
• 誘い (sasoi) - "invitation" in Japanese
• を (wo) - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 拒否した (kyohi shita) - "refused" in Japanese

彼女は私をデートに誘う。

Kanojo wa watashi o deeto ni sasou

She invites me to a date.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• を (wo) - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• デート (deeto) - means "encounter" in Japanese, usually used to refer to a romantic meeting
• に (ni) - destination particle in Japanese
• 誘う (sasou) - It means "invite" in Japanese.

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