The Meaning of ojōsan [お嬢さん] In Japanese

お嬢さん
おじょうさん
Romaji: ojōsan N5

What does お嬢さん mean?

Translation and Meaning

miss, young lady, polite form referring to someone else’s daughter

Definition

What does お嬢さん mean? It is a polite term used to refer to a girl who is not the speaker’s daughter, often used by adults in service contexts or when addressing a child of someone else.

Type

noun (honorific compound)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Polite address for a young girl who is not the speaker’s daughter, common in everyday polite speech.
  • When speaking to a parent, can refer to their daughter in a courteous register.
  • Used by staff or professionals in service or formal interactions to address a female customer or resident.

Etymology

お is a respectful prefix attached to nouns; 娘 means daughter or young woman; さん is a polite suffix derived from 様 (sama). The pronunciation ojōsan results from combining these elements.

Composition

  • お prefix used to show respect when attached to nouns
  • 娘 means daughter or a young woman
  • さん a polite suffix after names or titles indicating respect
ojōsan is the pronunciation formed by these elements.

Usage

In formal or polite contexts, used by adults to refer to a girl who is not their own daughter, or when addressing a customer, guest, or a child of someone else; not common in casual speech among close friends; the related お嬢様 is used by staff addressing a mistress’s daughter or someone of high status.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine an attentive host adding a respectful layer to a common noun—the O adds politeness, the 娘 designates a young female, and the さん seals the form with respect.

Variations

  • お嬢様 — young Miss, highly formal, ojōsama
  • 娘さん — daughter, neutral register, musume-san
  • お嬢ちゃん — informal, affectionate variant for a young girl, ojōchan

Example Phrases

  • お嬢さん、こちらの席へどうぞ、ゆっくりおくつろぎください。
    Ojōsan, kochira no seki e dōzo, yukkuri okutsurogi kudasai.
    Miss, please take a seat here and make yourself comfortable.
    Lista:
    • お嬢さん (Ojōsan) – Miss
    • こちらの席へ (kochira no seki e) – to this seat
    • どうぞ (dōzo) – please / go ahead
    • ゆっくりおくつろぎください (yukkuri okutsurogi kudasai) – please take your time and relax
    The term 「お嬢さん」 is an honorific address for a young woman, adding politeness when speaking to someone else’s daughter or a customer; it conveys respect and a polite distance.
お嬢さん