1.
lady; gentlewoman; woman of refined character
A woman of good breeding and graceful manners. Used in formal or literary contexts to describe an elegant, well-mannered woman.
彼女は淑女のようにふるまった。
She behaved like a lady.
紳士淑女の皆さま、ようこそ。
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome.
祖母は昔から淑女としての教育を受けてきた。
My grandmother was raised with the education of a lady from a young age.
淑女 is a formal, somewhat literary word for a refined, well-mannered woman. It is rarely used in everyday conversation.
COMMON USAGE:
Most frequently encountered in the set phrase 紳士淑女の皆さま (ladies and gentlemen), used at formal events and ceremonies.
PAIR WORD:
- 紳士: gentleman (male counterpart)
REGISTER:
Formal, literary, or old-fashioned. In everyday speech, 女性 (woman) is far more common. 淑女 carries connotations of elegance, modesty, and good upbringing that make it sound ceremonial or bookish in casual contexts.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 女性: woman (neutral, everyday)
- 婦人: lady, woman (formal, seen in signage and formal writing)
- レディー: lady (loanword, casual)