1.
maiden, young girl, virgin
A young, unmarried woman. Often used in literary or romantic contexts.
乙女のような笑顔。
A smile like that of a young girl.
乙女心をくすぐる。
To appeal to a maiden's heart.
母も昔は乙女だった。
My mother was once a young girl too.
乙女 is a somewhat literary or romantic word for a young, innocent girl or maiden. More poetic than 女の子 or 少女.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 乙女心: a maiden's heart, girlish feelings
- 乙女チック: girly, maiden-like
- 乙女ゲーム: otome game (romance game for women)
- 乙女座: Virgo (zodiac sign)
CULTURAL NOTE:
乙女ゲーム 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.
REGISTER:
The word itself is literary/poetic when used literally. In compounds like 乙女ゲーム and 乙女チック, it is casual and modern.