處女 / 处女
chǔnǚ
In Chinese, the English phrase "virgin" can be translated using several terms depending on gender. The default form is 處女 / 处女 (chǔnǚ). Wiktionary also lists 處子 / 处子 (chǔzǐ) and 處男 / 处男 (chǔnán).
Meaning: person who has never had sexual intercourse (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 處女 / 处女 | chǔnǚ |
| 處子 / 处子 | chǔzǐ |
| 處男 / 处男 | chǔnán |
These terms refer to a person who has never had sexual intercourse.
Which one should you use?
The terms are differentiated by gender and register: 處女 / 处女 refers specifically to a female virgin, while 處男 / 处男 is used specifically for a male virgin. To refer to a female virgin in a more literary or formal style, you may use 處子 / 处子.
How do you pronounce it?
chǔnǚ
Did you know?
- Using the masculine form 處男 / 处男 in casual conversation can sometimes carry a slightly teasing or mocking tone among young people, similar to calling someone a 'loser' in certain contexts.
- In some Chinese dialects, the concept of 'virginity' is discussed using a 'flower' metaphor, where 'plucking a flower' refers to the loss of virginity.
- The term 處女 / 处女 is also used in the name for the zodiac sign Virgo, mirroring the Latin root of the English word 'Virgo'.
Examples in context
- 她一直保持贞洁，至今仍是个处子。She has always maintained her chastity and is still a virgin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “virgin” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
