1.
she, her
Third person singular pronoun for females.
2.
girlfriend
One's female romantic partner.
彼女 has two meanings: "she/her" (pronoun) and "girlfriend" (noun). Context usually makes the meaning clear.
AS PRONOUN ("she/her"):
Used less frequently than "she" in English. Japanese often omits pronouns when the referent is clear from context. Using the person's name is often preferred over 彼女.
AS "GIRLFRIEND":
- 彼女がいる: to have a girlfriend
- 彼女ができる: to get a girlfriend
- 彼女と別れる: to break up with one's girlfriend
COUNTERPART:
- 彼: he/boyfriend
NOTE:
In writing, 彼女 as a pronoun is common (novels, news). In speech, it sounds slightly formal or distant. For close acquaintances, use their name.
Related Words
Antonym:
彼氏 (boyfriend)