1.
dressing as a woman, cross-dressing (male to female)
The act of a man dressing in women's clothing. Used in contexts ranging from theatrical performance and cosplay to daily life. The suru verb form means 'to dress as a woman.'
彼は女装している。
He is dressed as a woman.
文化祭で男子生徒が女装して劇に出た。
Male students dressed as women and appeared in a play at the school festival.
女装があまりにも上手で、誰も男性だと気づかなかった。
His cross-dressing was so convincing that nobody noticed he was male.
USAGE:
女装 specifically refers to a male dressing as a female. The reverse — a female dressing as a male — is 男装.
The word is used neutrally in Japanese and appears in theatrical, cosplay, comedy, and everyday contexts without necessarily carrying negative connotations.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 女装する: to cross-dress (as a woman)
- 女装姿: appearance in women's clothing
- 女装コンテスト: cross-dressing contest
- 完璧な女装: perfect female disguise