Homem em japonês é “男” (otoko) e Mulher é “女” (onna).

The Japanese language is fascinating and rich in nuances, especially when it comes to expressing gender and age. In this article, we will explore the different ways to say “man” and “woman” in Japanese, as well as other related words, such as “boy,” “girl,” “young boy,” and “young girl.”

We also recommend reading:

• Gender language in the Japanese language
• Hito [人] How to say Person in Japanese?

女 – Onna – Ideogram for Woman

The ideogram “onna” [女] represents a woman. The original form of the character (in ancient Chinese) depicted a person kneeling with arms crossed, suggesting a woman in a submissive or modest position.

This image reflects the historical perception of women’s roles in society, which used to be more passive and domestic. Although perceptions and gender roles have evolved over time, the form of the ideogram has remained virtually unchanged.

It is important to highlight that the meanings and etymology of kanji are not always an accurate representation of current attitudes and beliefs regarding gender.

Here are some examples of Japanese words that use the ideogram for woman, 女 (onna):

1. 女子 (joshi): girl, young woman (informal)
2. 女性 (josei): woman, feminine
3. 女の子 (onna no ko): girl, young girl
4. 美女 (bijo): beautiful woman, lovely lady
5. 女王 (joō): queen
6. 女優 (joyū): actress
7. 女装 (josō): dressing as a woman, cross-dressing (in the case of men)
8. 男女 (danjo): men and women, both sexes
9. 女心 (onnagokoro): woman’s heart, feminine mind
10. 女らしい (onnarashii): feminine, delicate

These words illustrate the versatility of the ideogram for woman, 女, and how it can be used in different contexts to describe various characteristics, professions, and attributes related to the female gender.

男 – Otoko – Ideogram for Man

The ideogram “otoko” [男] is composed of two elements. The top part (田) represents a rice field, while the bottom part (力) represents strength or power.

The etymology of this kanji is related to the idea that men, in ancient times, were seen as responsible for heavy work in the fields. Thus, the combination of these elements conveys the idea of physical strength associated with agriculture and labor.

Let’s explore some Japanese words that use the ideogram for man, 男 (otoko). Here are some examples:

1. 男子 (danshi): boy, young man (informal)
2. 男性 (dansei): man, masculine
3. 男の子 (otoko no ko): boy, young boy
4. 男前 (otokomae): handsome man, attractive
5. 男爵 (danshaku): baron
6. 男優 (dan’yū): actor
7. 男装 (dansō): dressing as a man, cross-dressing (in the case of women)
8. 男女 (danjo): men and women, both sexes
9. 男心 (otokogokoro): man’s heart, masculine mind
10. 男らしい (otokorashii): manly, masculine

These words show how the ideogram for man, 男, is versatile and can be used in different contexts to describe various characteristics, professions, and attributes related to the male gender.

Boy and Girl in Japanese

Now, let’s address words that refer to children and adolescents:

• Boy: 男の子 (otoko no ko)
• Girl: 女の子 (onna no ko)
• Young man, youth (informal): 男子 (danshi)
• Young woman, girl (informal): 女子 (joshi)

Other similar terms are:

• 少年 (shōnen): boy, young man; also used to refer to manga aimed at a young male audience
• 少女 (shōjo): girl, young woman; also used to refer to manga aimed at a young female audience
• 青年 (seinen): young man, youth; also used to refer to manga aimed at a young adult male audience
• 青少年 (seishōnen): adolescent, youth (both genders)
• 少年少女 (shōnen shōjo): boys and girls, youths (both genders)
• 幼児 (yōji): small child, baby (both genders)
• 学童 (gakudō): student, schoolchild (both genders)
• 高校生 (kōkōsei): high school student (both genders)

These expressions are commonly used to describe children and adolescents of both genders.

Other Gender Words in Japanese

In addition to the basic ideograms for “man” and “woman,” there are also other kanji related to gender and age, such as:

1. Child, kid: 子 (ko) – used for both boys and girls
2. Young: 若 (waka) – used as a prefix to indicate youth, as in 若い男性 (wakai dansei, young man) and 若い女性 (wakai josei, young woman)
3. Old, elder: 老 (rō) – used as a prefix to indicate advanced age, as in 老人 (rōjin, old man or elder)

There are other words and expressions in Japanese that also refer to gender and age:

• Middle-aged man: 中年の男性 (chūnen no dansei)
• Middle-aged woman: 中年の女性 (chūnen no josei)
• Uncle, older man: おじさん (ojisan)
• Aunt, older woman: おばさん (obasan)

Note that “ojisan” and “obasan” can also be used informally to refer to uncles and aunts, respectively.

Here are some useful expressions related to marriage and relationships:

• Husband: 夫 (otto), ご主人 (goshujin) – more formal
• Wife: 妻 (tsuma), お婦人 (ofujin) – more formal
• Boyfriend: 彼氏 (kareshi)
• Girlfriend: 彼女 (kanojo)
• Fiancé: 婚約者 (konyaku-sha)
• Fiancée: 婚約者 (konyaku-sha)