Meaning and Usage
"女子" (じょし) primarily refers to females, often translated as "woman" or "girl" depending on context. It is commonly used to specify gender in various settings, such as schools, sports teams, or facilities.
Common Contexts
You will often see "女子" used in compound words like "女子学生" (female student), "女子トイレ" (women's restroom), or "女子サッカー" (women's soccer). It is a neutral term and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Collocations and Patterns
- 女子学生: female student, used in educational contexts.
- 女子トイレ: women's restroom, common public facility sign.
- 女子チーム: women's team, used in sports or competitions.
Usage Notes
While "女子" can mean "girl," it often refers to females in a general or collective sense rather than a specific young girl. For referring to a young girl specifically, "女の子" (おんなのこ) is more common. Avoid confusing these two to maintain naturalness.
Register
"女子" is polite and neutral, suitable for written and spoken Japanese in formal and casual situations.