Meaning and Usage
The suffix ～女 (～じょ) is used to count daughters in order within a family, such as first daughter (長女), second daughter (次女), third daughter (三女), and so on. It is a formal and common way to specify birth order among sisters.
Common Collocations
- 長女 (ちょうじょ): eldest daughter
- 次女 (じじょ): second daughter
- 三女 (さんじょ): third daughter
- 四女 (よんじょ): fourth daughter
These terms are often used in family contexts, legal documents, or formal introductions.
Usage Notes
When using ～女, the number prefix indicates the birth order of the daughter. This suffix is specific to daughters; for sons, ～男 (～だん) or ～男児 (～だんじ) is used instead. Avoid confusing ～女 with the standalone word 女 (woman/female), as ～女 is a counting suffix.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse ～女 with the word 女 (woman). Remember that ～女 is attached to numbers to indicate birth order among daughters, not to describe a woman generally.