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 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 - substantivo que significa "ela" ou "namorada"
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 側 - noun meaning "side" or "near"
• に - particle indicating the action of going to or being in a place
• いたい - verb meaning "to want to be" or "to wish to be"
• です - particle indicating the formality of the sentence

私は彼女に代わることができますか？

Watashi wa kanojo ni kawaru koto ga dekimasu ka?

Posso substituí-la?

Can I replace it?

• 私 - means "I" in Japanese.
• は - é uma partícula gramatical que indica o tópico da frase, neste caso, "eu".
• 彼女 - Means "girlfriend" or "she" in Japanese.
• に - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the recipient of the action, in this case, "to her".
• 代わる - It means "replace" or "exchange" in Japanese.
• こと - It is a grammatical particle that indicates an action or event, in this case, "replace".
• が - it is a grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "I".
• できます - means "power" or "to be able to" in Japanese.
• か - It is a grammatical particle that indicates a question, in this case, "can I replace it?"

私は彼女の関心を引くことができるだろうか。

Watashi wa kanojo no kanshin o hiku koto ga dekiru darou ka

Será que eu posso despertar o interesse dela?

Posso conseguir o interesse dela?

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 彼女 - substantivo japonês que significa "ela" ou "namorada"
• の - partícula japonesa que indica posse, neste caso "dela"
• 関心 - substantivo japonês que significa "interesse"
• を - partícula japonesa que indica o objeto direto da frase, neste caso "interesse"
• 引く - verbo japonês que significa "atrair"
• こと - substantivo japonês que significa "coisa" ou "fato"
• が - partícula japonesa que indica o sujeito da frase, neste caso "eu"
• できる - verbo japonês que significa "ser capaz de"
• だろう - expressão japonesa que indica probabilidade ou incerteza, neste caso "será que"
• か - partícula japonesa que indica uma pergunta

私は彼女に結婚を申し出た。

Watashi wa kanojo ni kekkon wo moushidasita

I proposed marriage to her.

I offered him to get married.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 彼女 - noun that means "girlfriend" or "fiancée" in Japanese
• に - particle that indicates the recipient of the action
• 結婚 - noun that means "marriage" in Japanese
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• 申し出た - verb that means "propose" or "request" in Japanese, conjugated in the past

私は彼女に夢中です。

Watashi wa kanojo ni muchuu desu

I'm obsessed with her.

I'm crazy about her.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "me"
• 彼女 - noun "girlfriend"
• に - target particle, indicates that the action is directed towards the "girlfriend"
• 夢中 - adjective "passionate"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

私は彼女を探す。

Watashi wa kanojo wo sagasu

I'm looking for a girlfriend.

I look for her.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - topic particle, indicates that the topic of the sentence is "I"
• 彼女 - noun "girlfriend"
• を - direct object particle, indicates that "girlfriend" is the object of the action
• 探す - verb "search"

私は彼女が悲しむのを見るのが辛いです。

Watashi wa kanojo ga kanashimu no o miru no ga tsurai desu

É difícil para mim ver ela triste.

É difícil vê -la triste.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - Topic particle
• 彼女 - pronome "ela"
• が - subject particle
• 悲しむ - verbo "ficar triste"
• の - nominal particle
• を - direct object particle
• 見る - verbo "ver"
• の - nominal particle
• が - subject particle
• 辛い - adjetivo "difícil"
• です - verb to be"

私は彼女に話し掛けた。

Watashi wa kanojo ni hanashikakeru ta

I talked with her.

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) - partícula que marca o tópico da frase, indicando que o assunto é "eu"
• 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.