Meaning and Usage
"女性" (じょせい) specifically refers to adult women or females in general. It is a formal and neutral term often used in official contexts, news, and written language.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "女性" used in contexts like workplace demographics, health statistics, or facilities designated for women (e.g., 女性専用車両 - women-only cars).
Collocations and Patterns
- 女性の社員 (female employees): used to specify women in a professional setting.
- 女性専用 (women-only): indicates something exclusively for women, such as rooms or train cars.
- 女性の権利 (women's rights): common in social and political discussions.
Register and Politeness
"女性" is polite and formal compared to casual words like "女の人" (おんなのひと). It is appropriate in both spoken and written language, especially in formal or neutral contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "女性" with "女" (おんな), which can sound blunt or informal. Use "女性" when you want to be polite or formal, especially in professional or public settings.