1.
lady; noblewoman; woman of high social standing
A woman of noble birth or refined social status. Used in both historical and literary contexts, and sometimes to describe a woman who carries herself with elegance and grace.
貴婦人が馬車に乗った。
The noblewoman got into the carriage.
彼女は貴婦人のような気品がある。
She has the refinement of a lady.
中世ヨーロッパでは、貴婦人たちが文化や芸術の発展に大きく貢献した。
In medieval Europe, noblewomen greatly contributed to the development of culture and the arts.
USAGE:
A formal, somewhat literary word for a woman of high social standing. In modern Japanese, it is more commonly encountered in historical fiction, fairy tales, and formal descriptions than in everyday conversation.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 貴婦人のような (like a lady)
- 貴婦人の装い (a lady's attire)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 令嬢: young lady of good family — focuses on youth and family background
- 淑女: gentlewoman — emphasizes refined manners rather than social rank
- 婦人: woman (polite/formal) — a general polite term without the "noble" nuance