Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 姫 | hime | [çime̞] (narrow) |
| 王女 | ōjo | [o̞ːʑo̞] (narrow) [o̞ːɲ̟o̞] (narrow) |
| 公主 | kōshu | [ko̞ːɕɨ] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the term for a female member of a royal family can vary significantly depending on the context. While 姫 (hime) is the standard term, it is also used in modern slang to refer to a woman who is treated like a princess or is highly pampered. 王女 (ōjo) is a more technical and formal term often used in political or journalistic contexts to denote a royal female.
Which one should you use?
The terms differ primarily in their level of formality and specific application. 姫 is the general term, whereas 王女 is a technical term used specifically to denote a female member of a royal family in a formal or political setting. Additionally, the term 公主 (kōshu) serves as another way to express the concept.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify the base word 姫 to change its politeness.
How do you pronounce it?
hime
Did you know?
- The word 姫 originally combined the character for 'sun' (日) and 'female' (女). This suggests the term was historically linked to the solar associations of the imperial family.
- The word 姫 is frequently used in the names of traditional Japanese sweets or luxury desserts to imply a refined or high-quality taste.
- Because 姫 can be used as a suffix for names, it is often used in historical fiction to denote a lady of high status, even if she is not a literal princess.
Examples in context
- お姫さま、おはようございます。Good morning, princess.This example shows how to use 姫 in a morning greeting.Tatoeba #10208873 by small_snow, translation #7033278 by Hybrid
- 姫は目を閉じて、横たわっておられた。The princess lay with her eyes closed.This sentence demonstrates the use of 姫 when describing the actions of a princess.Tatoeba #85424 by KK_kaku_, translation #318289 by CK
- お姫様は、えも言われぬ美しさでした。The princess was beautiful beyond description.This sentence uses 姫 to describe the beauty of a princess.Tatoeba #11267988 by bunbuku, translation #49457 by CK
- おはよう、ひめちゃん！今日も可愛いね。Good morning, princess! You look adorable today.
- おうじょさま、今度はおいしいケーキを作ってくれるのかな？Princess, will you make a delicious cake this time?
- あの子は本当に姫君みたいな性格だね。That girl truly has the personality of a princess.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two children are playing pretend in a living room.
- 大翔 Hiroto君は今日から姫だ。Kimi wa kyou kara hime da.From today, you are the princess.
- 陽葵 Himari本当？嬉しい！Hontou? Ureshii!Really? I'm so happy!
- 大翔 Hirotoさあ、姫、こちらへどうぞ。Saa, hime, kochira e douzo.Now, princess, please come this way.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう、大翔さん。Arigatou, Hiroto-san.Thank you, Hiroto.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “princess” translations and entries 姫, 王女, 公主, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 公主, 姫, 王女, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
