女: the kanji for woman
女 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means woman. Below are its readings, 13 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
女 is written in 3 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
女 has 5 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 11 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ジョ (jo)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 女性じょせい · josei | woman |
| 女子じょし · joshi | girl; woman |
| 長女ちょうじょ · chōjo | eldest daughter |
| 彼女かのじょ · kanojo | she; girlfriend |
| 少女しょうじょ · shōjo | girl |
| 女優じょゆう · joyū | actress |
ニョウ (nyou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 女房にょうぼう · nyōbō | wife (informal) |
おんな (onna)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 女おんな · onna | woman |
| 女の子おんなのこ · onnanoko | girl |
| 女の人おんなのひと · onna no hito | woman |
め (me)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 女神めがみ · megami | goddess |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 女, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 乙女おとめ · otome | maiden |
| 海女あま · ama | female free diver |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- この会社では女性の管理職が増えています。Kono kaisha de wa josei no kanrishoku ga fuete imasu.At this company, the number of women managers is growing.
- 彼女は営業部の部長です。Kanojo wa eigyōbu no buchō desu.She is the head of the sales department.
- うちには女の子が二人います。Uchi ni wa onnanoko ga futari imasu.We have two girls.
- あの女の人は誰ですか。Ano onna no hito wa dare desu ka.Who is that woman?
- 長女は大学生です。Chōjo wa daigakusei desu.My eldest daughter is a university student.
- 女子トイレは二階です。Joshi toire wa nikai desu.The women's restroom is on the second floor.
Questions about 女
How many strokes does 女 have?
女 is written in 3 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 女?
The on readings are jo (ジョ), nyo (ニョ), nyou (ニョウ). The kun readings are onna (おんな), me (め).
What is the difference between 女性 and 女の人?
Both mean "woman." 女性 (josei) is more formal and common in business and writing. 女の人 (onna no hito) is everyday Japanese.
What JLPT level is 女?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
People
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 女
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.