姫(ひめ)

ひめ
noun, prefix
princess, young noblewoman
person
1. princess, young noblewoman
A princess or daughter of noble birth. In historical and fairy-tale contexts, refers to the daughter of a lord, emperor, or other high-ranking figure.
昔話(むかしばなし)の姫(ひめ)は美(うつく)しい。
The princesses in old tales are beautiful.
かぐや姫(ひめ)は日本(にほん)で最(もっと)も有名(ゆうめい)な物語(ものがたり)の一(ひと)つだ。
The Tale of Princess Kaguya is one of the most famous stories in Japan.
城(しろ)の塔(とう)に閉(と)じ込(こ)められた姫(ひめ)を勇者(ゆうしゃ)が助(たす)けに行(い)く。
The hero goes to rescue the princess locked in the castle tower.
2. small, delicate (as prefix)
When used as a prefix, indicates a smaller or more delicate variety of something, often plants or animals. This usage derives from the association of 姫(ひめ) with femininity and daintiness.
庭(にわ)に姫(ひめ)リンゴの木(き)を植(う)えた。
I planted a crab apple tree in the garden.
姫(ひめ)リンゴ literally "princess apple" — a small ornamental apple variety.
姫(ひめ)マツタケは小(ちい)さくてかわいい。
The small matsutake mushrooms are cute and tiny.
この姫(ひめ)シャラは花(はな)が小(ちい)さくて繊細(せんさい)だ。
This Japanese stewartia has small, delicate flowers.

Common collocations

  • お姫(ひめ)さま: princess (polite/fairy-tale style)
  • お姫(ひめ)さま抱(だ)っこ: bridal carry ("princess carry")
  • 姫(ひめ)君(ぎみ): princess, noble lady (classical/literary)

As a prefix

姫(ひめ)〜 indicates a smaller or more delicate version of something:

  • 姫(ひめ)リンゴ: crab apple (small apple)
  • 姫(ひめ)シャラ: Japanese stewartia (smaller than シャラ)
  • 姫(ひめ)百合(ゆり): star lily (small lily species)

Cultural note

姫(ひめ) appears in many famous Japanese stories: かぐや姫(ひめ) (Princess Kaguya), 乙(おと)姫(ひめ) (Princess Otohime from Urashima Taro), and many others. In modern usage, it sometimes appears as slang meaning a pampered or princess-like girl.

Related Words

Related: 王女(おうじょ) (princess)
Related: お姫様(ひめさま) (princess)
Compare: 公女(こうじょ) (princess)
general
Added 2026.2.20 22:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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