Meaning
The kanji 婦 (婦) primarily means 'woman', 'lady', or 'wife'. This versatile character appears in many compounds, referring to females in various capacities. It can denote a woman generally, as in a polite term, or specify roles like 'housewife' or 'bride'. While 婦 broadly refers to a woman, its historical and etymological roots often link it more strongly to married women or those managing household affairs.
Tracing its origins, 婦 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The left-hand side, 女 (女), serves as the radical, directly conveying the meaning of 'woman'. The right-hand side, 帚 (帚), acts as the phonetic component and originally meant 'broom'.
The ancient form of 婦 depicted a woman holding a broom. This symbolized a woman engaged in household duties. Over time, its meaning evolved to represent a 'wife' or 'married woman' who oversees the home, eventually broadening to 'woman' or 'lady' in general, often carrying a respectful nuance.
Visually, the 女 radical immediately indicates that the kanji relates to females. The 帚 component, though phonetic, subtly reinforces the traditional association with domesticity. This links the abstract concept of 'woman' to a more concrete, historical role. Understanding this etymology helps clarify why 婦 is frequently found in words related to marital status or women's societal roles.
The kanji 婦 has 11 strokes. It is a Jōyō Kanji (常用漢字), part of the common use kanji list typically taught in junior high school in Japan. For JLPT learners, 婦 is an essential N3 level kanji, crucial for understanding many everyday terms related to people and family.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The main On'yomi (Chinese-derived reading) for 婦 is フ (FU). This reading is highly consistent and is used in almost all common kanji compounds involving 婦. As a learner, focus on mastering this reading, as it is the one you will encounter most frequently.
- 婦人 (fujin) — This is a polite and general term for a woman or lady. It's often used in formal contexts or when referring to women respectfully, similar to "Ms." or "Madam." For example, you might see 婦人服 (fujinfuku), meaning "women's clothing," in a department store.
- 夫婦 (fūfu) — Meaning 'husband and wife' or 'married couple'. This compound clearly shows the 'wife' aspect of 婦 by combining it with 夫 (husband). It's a fundamental term describing marital relationships.
- 主婦 (shufu) — Refers to a 'housewife'. Here, 主 (shu) means 'master' or 'main', so a 主婦 is the 'main woman' of the house, indicating her primary role in managing the home. This word is very common in daily conversation.
- 産婦人科 (sanfujinka) — The medical department of 'obstetrics and gynecology'. This longer compound illustrates how 婦 is used in specialized fields, combining with 産 (san, childbirth) and 人 (jin, person) to form 婦人 (woman).
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Unlike many kanji, 婦 does not have a common or standalone Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading) in modern everyday Japanese. While some older dictionaries or specialized texts might list readings like よめ (yome), meaning 'bride' or 'wife' (and typically written with kanji like 嫁 or 妻), N3 learners should remember that 婦 is almost exclusively found in On'yomi compounds. Therefore, your primary focus should be on mastering its フ reading within specific contexts. The absence of a prevalent Kun'yomi simplifies its usage, as you won't need to differentiate between On'yomi and Kun'yomi when encountering the kanji by itself.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 婦 appears in numerous compounds, often related to women's roles, family, and social status. Here are some of the most common and important ones, categorized for easier learning:
General & Respectful Terms for Women
- 婦人 (fujin) — Lady, woman. A polite and general term. Often seen in signs (e.g., 婦人服売り場 - women's clothing section).
- 老婦人 (rōfujin) — Elderly lady. Combines 老 (rō, old) with 婦人.
- 未亡人 (mibōjin) — Widow. A somewhat older term, though still understood.
Family & Marital Status
- 夫婦 (fūfu) — Husband and wife, a married couple. One of the most common uses of 婦.
- 主婦 (shufu) — Housewife. Refers to a woman whose primary role is managing the household.
- 専業主婦 (sengyō shufu) — Full-time housewife. Adds 専業 (sengyō, specializing in one occupation) to 主婦.
- 新婦 (shinpu) — Bride. Used specifically for a woman on her wedding day.
- 寡婦 (kafu) — Widow. A more direct and sometimes formal term than 未亡人.
Professional & Social Roles
- 婦警 (fukei) — Policewoman. While understood, 女性警察官 (josei keisatsukan) is now more commonly used to avoid gender-specific job titles.
- 婦長 (fuchō) — Head nurse (female). Similar to 婦警, 看護師長 (kangoshichō) is now the more common gender-neutral term.
- 助産婦 (josanpu) — Midwife. The character 助 (jo) means 'help'. Note that 助産師 (josanshi) is the modern gender-neutral term.
Medical & Health Related
- 産婦人科 (sanfujinka) — Obstetrics and gynecology department. A vital term for women's health.
- 婦人科 (fujinka) — Gynecology department. The specific branch dealing with women's reproductive health.
Example Sentences
婦人服の店がオープンしました。
Fujinfuku no mise ga ōpun shimashita.
A women's clothing store has opened.
あの夫婦はいつも仲良しだ。
Ano fūfu wa itsumo nakayoshi da.
That couple always gets along well.
彼女は専業主婦として家族を支えている。
Kanojo wa sengyō shufu to shite kazoku o sasaete iru.
She supports her family as a full-time housewife.
駅前で婦人警官が交通整理をしていた。
Ekimae de fujin keikan ga kōtsū seiri o shite ita.
A policewoman was directing traffic in front of the station.
妊娠したので、産婦人科を受診しました。
Ninshin shita node, sanfujinka o jushin shimashita.
Since I got pregnant, I visited the obstetrics and gynecology department.
彼は若い寡婦と再婚した。
Kare wa wakai kafu to saikon shita.
He remarried a young widow.
新婦は純白のドレスを着ていた。
Shinpu wa junpaku no doresu o kite ita.
The bride was wearing a pure white dress.
隣の老婦人はとても親切な方です。
Tonari no rōfujin wa totemo shinsetsu na kata desu.
The elderly lady next door is a very kind person.
彼は婦人に席を譲った。
Kare wa fujin ni seki o yuzutta.
He gave up his seat to the lady.
この地域では婦人会が活発に活動している。
Kono chiiki de wa fujinkai ga kappatsu ni katsudō shite iru.
The women's association is actively working in this area.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 婦 (婦), visualize its components. On the left, you'll see 女 (女), which clearly means "woman." On the right side, though technically a phonetic component, it visually resembles 帚 (a broom). So, picture a "woman" (女) with a "broom" (帚) in her hand. This image evokes the traditional role of a woman managing a household, thus connecting it to the meaning of "wife" or "lady." Think of her as a "housewife" or a respectable "lady" who diligently cares for her home. This vivid scene directly links the kanji's shape to its core meanings of woman and wife.