美女
bijo[bʲiʑo̞]
The Japanese phrase for "beautiful woman" is 美女 (bijo).
美女 refers to a woman who is physically attractive. It is often used in written contexts, such as literature or news headlines or when describing a specific type of beauty in a more objective or stylized way.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters 美 (beauty) and 女 (woman).
Which one should you use?
While 美女 emphasizes physical beauty, the term 美人 is a more common and slightly more natural way to refer to a beautiful woman in general conversation. For more specific nuances, キレイな女性 can be used to mean a "pretty" or "attractive" woman, while 華麗な女性 describes a "gorgeous" or "stunning" woman.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
美女 is a somewhat formal or literary term and is less common in casual daily conversation than descriptive phrases. For more formal expressions, you may use 美しい女性 or 麗しい女性. Conversely, キレイな女性 is an informal way to say "pretty woman" or "attractive woman".
How do you pronounce it?
bijo
Did you know?
- The character for woman 女 is used in the character for 'good' 好, suggesting that the original concept of 'liking' something was linked to the presence of a woman.
- In historical Japanese art and literature, the 'ideal' beautiful woman was often described as having 'willow eyebrows' and a 'moon-like face', rather than the modern standards of beauty.
- In modern Japanese pop culture, particularly in anime and manga, the term 美女 is often used in the trope of the 'femme fatale' to signal that a character's beauty may be a dangerous weapon.
Examples in context
- 彼女は街で有名な美女だ。Kanojo wa machi de yuumei na bijo da.She is a famous beautiful woman in town.
- あの美女は誰ですか？Ano bijo wa dare desu ka?Who is that beautiful woman?
- まるで美女のような雰囲気ですね。Marude bijo no you na fun'iki desu ne.You have the aura of a beautiful woman.
Example conversation
A woman and a man are talking about a celebrity on TV.
- 大翔 Hirotoあの女優は本当に美女だね。Ano joyuu wa hontou ni bijo da ne.That actress is truly a beautiful woman.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、とても綺麗です。Hai, totemo kirei desu.Yes, she is very beautiful.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵も彼女みたいに美人だね。Himari mo kanojo mitai ni bijin da ne.Himari, you are a beauty just like her.
- 陽葵 Himariそんなこと言わないでください。Sonna koto iwanaide kudasai.Please don't say such things.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 美女, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
