Japanese dictionary
How to say "she" in Japanese
彼女かのじょ · kanojo
"She" in Japanese is 彼女 (kanojo), but Japanese speakers usually use the person's name, like 山田さん. 彼女 can also mean "girlfriend."
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Ways to say "she" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 彼女かのじょ · kanojo | She. Can also mean girlfriend. |
| この人このひと · kono hito | She; this person. |
| （名前）さんなまえさん · ___-san | She (using her name). Most natural. |
How to use it
Japanese often leaves out "she" when the subject is clear.
To refer politely to a woman nearby, say こちらの方 (kochira no kata).
Example sentences
- 山田さんは人事部の部長です。Yamada-san wa jinjibu no buchō desu.She (Ms. Yamada) is the head of HR.
- 彼女は大学の友だちです。Kanojo wa daigaku no tomodachi desu.She's a friend from college.
- 彼女がいますか。Kanojo ga imasu ka.Do you have a girlfriend?
- 彼女の意見に賛成です。Kanojo no iken ni sansei desu.I agree with her opinion.
- こちらの方が新しい担当者です。Kochira no kata ga atarashii tantōsha desu.She is the new person in charge.
- この人はだれですか。Kono hito wa dare desu ka.Who is she?
Kanji in this word
Questions
Should I use 彼女 for she in Japanese?
It's grammatical, but at work people usually use the person's name with さん, or leave the subject out.
Does 彼女 mean girlfriend?
It can. 彼女 (kanojo) means she, and also girlfriend, depending on context.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.