女 主 人 公(じょしゅじんこう)

じょしゅじんこう

noun

heroine; female protagonist

academic

1. heroine; female protagonist; female lead character

The main female character in a novel, film, drama, manga, anime, or other narrative work. Distinguished from 主人公 (protagonist, which is gender-neutral but often assumed male) by the prefix 女 to specify the character is female.

この映画(えいが)の女主人公(じょしゅじんこう)は強(つよ)い女性(じょせい)だ。

The heroine of this movie is a strong woman.

女主人公(じょしゅじんこう)の成長(せいちょう)を描(えが)いた小説(しょうせつ)が人気(にんき)だ。

A novel depicting the growth of a female protagonist is popular.

このドラマでは、女主人公(じょしゅじんこう)が困難(こんなん)を乗(の)り越(こ)えながら夢(ゆめ)を実現(じつげん)していく姿(すがた)が感動的(かんどうてき)に描(えが)かれている。

In this drama, the heroine's journey of overcoming hardships while realizing her dream is depicted movingly.

Composed of 女(じょ) (female) and 主人公(しゅじんこう) (protagonist, main character). While 主人公(しゅじんこう) alone is technically gender-neutral, 女主人公(じょしゅじんこう) is used when the gender of the lead character is relevant to the discussion or when distinguishing from a male lead.

Common collocations

女主人公(じょしゅじんこう)を演(えん)じる: to play the role of the female lead
女主人公(じょしゅじんこう)の視点(してん): from the heroine's perspective
女主人公(じょしゅじんこう)の物語(ものがたり): a story of a female protagonist

Similar words

主人公(しゅじんこう): protagonist — gender-neutral term for the main character
ヒロイン: heroine — the loanword from English, often used in manga/anime contexts and sometimes refers to the female love interest rather than the lead
男主人公(だんしゅじんこう): male protagonist — the corresponding term for a male lead

Related Words

Compare: ヒロイン (heroine)

general

Added 2026.5.4 1:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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