乙女(おとめ)

おとめ
noun
maiden, young girl
person
1. maiden, young girl, virgin
A young, unmarried woman. Often used in literary or romantic contexts.
乙女(おとめ)のような笑顔(えがお)。
A smile like that of a young girl.
乙女(おとめ)心(ごころ)をくすぐる。
To appeal to a maiden's heart.
母(はは)も昔(むかし)は乙女(おとめ)だった。
My mother was once a young girl too.

乙女(おとめ) is a somewhat literary or romantic word for a young, innocent girl or maiden. More poetic than 女(おんな)の子(こ) or 少女(しょうじょ).

Common collocations

  • 乙女(おとめ)心(ごころ): a maiden's heart, girlish feelings
  • 乙女(おとめ)チック: girly, maiden-like
  • 乙女(おとめ)ゲーム: otome game (romance game for women)
  • 乙女(おとめ)座(ざ): Virgo (zodiac sign)

Cultural note

乙女(おとめ)ゲーム is a major genre of dating simulation games targeted at women, featuring romantic storylines with male characters. The term has become mainstream in pop culture.

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The word itself is literary/poetic when used literally. In compounds like 乙女(おとめ)ゲーム and 乙女(おとめ)チック, it is casual and modern.

Related Words

Compare: 少女(しょうじょ) (girl, young girl)
general
Added 2026.2.5 23:55 · Revised 2026.10.8 4:36
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