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:

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).