(じょう)さん

おじょうさん
noun
(someone's) daughter; young lady
1. (someone else's) daughter
Polite term used to refer to another person's daughter. This is the respectful form used when speaking about or addressing someone else's daughter.
(じょう)さんはおいくつですか。
How old is your daughter?
Polite inquiry about someone's daughter
田中(たなか)さんのお(じょう)さんは大学生(だいがくせい)だそうです。
I hear that Mr. Tanaka's daughter is a university student.
(じょう)さんは(なに)をなさっていますか。
What does your daughter do?
(じょう)さんの結婚式(けっこんしき)、おめでとうございます。
Congratulations on your daughter's wedding.
(じょう)さんの成績(せいせき)優秀(ゆうしゅう)で、将来(しょうらい)(たの)しみですね。
Your daughter's grades are excellent, and her future looks promising.
社長(しゃちょう)のお(じょう)さんが来年(らいねん)入社(にゅうしゃ)することになり、会社(かいしゃ)では(おお)きな話題(わだい)になっている。
The company president's daughter will join the company next year, and it's become big news within the organization.
2. young lady, miss
A polite way to address or refer to a young woman, often used by older speakers or in formal contexts.
(じょう)さん、(みち)(まよ)いましたか。
Miss, are you lost?
Addressing an unknown young woman politely
(じょう)さん、お荷物(にもつ)()としましたよ。
Miss, you dropped your bag.
(じょう)さん、お一人(ひとり)ですか。
Miss, are you alone?
彼女(かのじょ)はお(じょう)さん(そだ)ちで、世間(せけん)のことをあまり()らない。
She was raised like a sheltered young lady and doesn't know much about the world.
「お(じょう)さん、(せき)()いていますよ」と年配(ねんぱい)男性(だんせい)(こえ)をかけた。
"Miss, there's an empty seat," an older man called out.

(じょう)さん has two main uses: referring to someone else's daughter (polite), or addressing a young woman you don't know.

RELATED TERMS:

  • (むすめ): daughter (neutral, can be used for own daughter)
  • うちの(むすめ): my daughter (humble)
  • 息子(むすこ)さん: (someone else's) son
  • (ぼう)ちゃん: (someone else's) son; young master

The term can also imply a sheltered or pampered young woman: お(じょう)さん(そだ)ち (raised like a princess).

[Register: Polite]