処女

Japanese

Etymology

From Sinitic 處女. /syodyo/ > /syozyo/

Originally referred in Japanese to a woman in a house ([家に]処 (い)る女), more specifically to an unmarried woman.

Pronunciation

• On'yomi
• IPA: [ɕʲo̞d͡ʑʲo̞]

Noun

処女 (hiragana しょじょ, romaji shojo, historical hiragana しょぢょ)

1. a virgin, a maiden, an unmarried woman
2. for the first time; maiden (voyage, publication etc)

See also

• 少女 (しょうじょ, shōjo): a young girl