Japanese word

女優

Pronunciation

Romajijoyū

Meaning

  • nounactress

Example

その女優は人気があります。so no jo yū wa nin ki ga a ri ma su

That actress is popular.

Illustration for 女優 (actress)

More examples

その女優の演技に感動しました。so no jo yū no en gi ni kan dō shi ma shi ta

I was moved by that actress's performance.

Core concept

Describes a female performer whose work involves acting in stories presented on stage or screen.

Common phrases

  • 女優としてjo yū to shi te

    as an actress

  • 女優の演技jo yū no en gi

    actress's performance

  • 人気のある女優nin ki no a ru jo yū

    popular actress

Similar words

俳優haiyū: A person who plays characters in stories shown on stage or screen.
役者yakusha: A person who performs dramatic roles in plays, films, or similar works.

Definition in Japanese

舞台や映像作品などに出演し、人物を演じる女性。bu tai ya ei zō saku hin na do ni shutsu en shi jin butsu o en ji ru jo sei

Word origin

The word 女優 (joyū) combines 女 (jo, "female") with 優 (yū, "performer"), an older sense of 優 connected with acting.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use actor for both men and women, but actress still specifically identifies a female actor in ordinary conversation.

Opposites

  • 男優danyūmale actornoun

Word lists with this word