Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 彼女 | kanojo | [ka̠no̞ʑo̞] (narrow) | |
| あの方 | ano kata | [a̠no̞ka̠ta̠] (narrow) | polite |
| あの人 | ano hito | [a̠no̞çi̥to̞] (narrow) | feminine, masculine |
| 奴 | yatsu | impolite, person |
The standard term for 'she' is 彼女, but this word is ambiguous because it can also mean 'girlfriend' depending on the context. To refer to a female in a way that avoids this confusion, speakers often use あの人 (that person) or more familiar terms like あの子 (that girl).
Which one should you use?
While 彼女 can mean both 'she' and 'girlfriend', other forms change the nuance. あの人 is a neutral way to say 'that person' and is frequently used to refer to a woman to avoid the ambiguity of 彼女. For a more polite tone, use あの方. For a friendly or familiar tone when referring to a girl, you can use あの子. Conversely, 奴 is used to refer to a person in a derogatory or very casual manner, similar to 'that guy' or 'that brat'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
あの方 is the polite choice when referring to someone of higher status or in formal settings. 奴 is impolite and should be used with caution as it is derogatory or extremely casual. 彼女 is standard but carries the risk of being interpreted as 'girlfriend'.
How do you pronounce it?
kanojo
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often over-use 彼女 when speaking Japanese. To sound more natural, prefer using the person's name or a demonstrative like あの人 instead.
Did you know?
- The word 彼女 is a relatively modern invention that emerged from translating Western literature into Japanese during the late 19th century.
- Using 彼女 too frequently in a conversation can make a speaker sound like they are reading a translated Western novel.
Examples in context
- 彼女は内股だ。She is pigeon-toed.This sentence describes a physical characteristic using 彼女.Tatoeba #87657 by bunbuku, translation #316051 by CK
- 彼女は短気だ。She has a hot temper.This sentence describes a personality trait using 彼女.Tatoeba #87738 by bunbuku, translation #310572 by CK
- 彼女は怒った。She got angry.This sentence describes an emotional state using 彼女.Tatoeba #87752 by bunbuku, translation #315955 by CK
- 彼女はとても優れたエンジニアです。She is a very talented engineer.
- 彼女はとても面白い人です。She is a very funny person.
- あいつは本当に頭がいいんだ。She is really clever, you know.
- 4181 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about a classmate.
- 結衣 Yui彼女はどこにいますか。Kanojo wa doko ni imasu ka.Where is she?
- 蓮 Ren図書館にいると思います。Toshokan ni iru to omoimasu.I think she is at the library.
- 結衣 Yui彼女にこれを渡してください。Kanojo ni kore o watashite kudasai.Please give this to her.
- 蓮 Renわかりました。伝えておきます。Wakarimashita. Tsutaete okimasu.Got it. I will tell her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “she” translations and entries 彼女, あの方, あの人, 奴, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries あの人, 彼女, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
