女子

じょし

woman, girl

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"女子" specifically refers to a female person or woman, often used in formal or written contexts. It can denote women in general or highlight gender in specific settings such as sports, dormitories, or social roles.

Common Contexts

  • Sports: "女子运动员" (female athletes) is a frequent collocation.
  • Social roles: Used to discuss women's roles or status.
  • Facilities: "女子宿舍" (women's dormitory) or "女子厕所" (women's restroom).

Collocations and Patterns

Usage Notes

"女子" is more formal and often appears in written language or official announcements. In casual speech, "女人" or "" might be more common. Avoid confusing "女子" with "女人" which can sometimes carry a more everyday or informal tone. "女子" emphasizes the female gender in contexts like sports or institutional settings.

Example Sentences

Many excellent female athletes participated in this competition.

Women play an increasingly important role in this society.

Smoking is prohibited in the women's dormitory.