Readings: (Onyomi), むすめ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Daughter, girl
The kanji 娘 is composed of 女 (on’na, meaning woman) and 良 (ryō, meaning good, skillful, beautiful). Historically, 良 was sometimes used phonetically or to denote “youth” or “beauty.” Thus, 娘 refers to a young, good, or beautiful woman, specifically a daughter.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 娘 (musume) is written with 10 strokes. Start with the left radical 女 (woman) with its three strokes: first the horizontal bar, then the downward-sloping stroke, and finally the horizontal stroke crossing the second. Then, write the 良 component on the right, which consists of seven strokes: first the small dot at the top, followed by the horizontal stroke, then the vertical stroke intersecting it, followed by two small horizontal strokes, and finally the bottom closing horizontal stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 女 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | S (Secondary School / Jouyou Kanji) |
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- むすめ (musume)
Common Words Using 娘
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 娘 | むすめ | daughter, girl |
| お嬢さん | おじょうさん | young lady, daughter (polite) |
| 一人娘 | ひとりむすめ | only daughter |
| 末娘 | すえむすめ | youngest daughter |
| 娘婿 | むすめむこ | son-in-law |
| 娘盛り | むすめざかり | prime of a girl’s youth/life |
| 箱入り娘 | はこいりむすめ | sheltered daughter |
| 嫁入り娘 | よめいりむすめ | marriageable daughter |
| 娘時代 | むすめじだい | maidenhood, girlhood |
| ご令嬢 | ごれいじょう | your daughter (very polite) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼女にはかわいい娘がいます。
Kana: かのじょにはかわいいむすめがいます。
Romaji: Kanojo ni wa kawaii musume ga imasu.
English: She has a cute daughter.
Japanese: 私の娘は来年大学生になります。
Kana: わたしのむすめはらいねんだいがくせいになります。
Romaji: Watashi no musume wa rainen daigakusei ni narimasu.
English: My daughter will become a university student next year.
Japanese: 娘のために新しい服を買いました。
Kana: むすめのためにあたらしいふくをかいました。
Romaji: Musume no tame ni atarashii fuku o kaimashita.
English: I bought new clothes for my daughter.
Japanese: お隣の娘さんはとても親切です。
Kana: おとなりのむすめさんはとてもしんせつです。
Romaji: Otonari no musume-san wa totemo shinsetsu desu.
English: Our neighbor’s daughter is very kind.
Japanese: 彼女は一人娘です。
Kana: かのじょはひとりむすめです。
Romaji: Kanojo wa hitori musume desu.
English: She is an only daughter.
Japanese: 娘は毎日ピアノの練習をしています。
Kana: むすめはまいにちピアノのれんしゅうをしています。
Romaji: Musume wa mainichi piano no renshuu o shiteimasu.
English: My daughter practices the piano every day.
Japanese: そのお嬢さんは美しい声を持っています。
Kana: そのおじょうさんはうつくしいこえをもっています。
Romaji: Sono ojousan wa utsukushii koe o motteimasu.
English: That young lady has a beautiful voice.
Japanese: 彼の末娘はもうすぐ小学校に入学します。
Kana: かれのすえむすめはもうすぐしょうがっこうににゅうがくします。
Romaji: Kare no sue musume wa mou sugu shougakkou ni nyuugaku shimasu.
English: His youngest daughter will enter elementary school soon.
Japanese: 娘時代は多くの思い出があります。
Kana: むすめじだいはおおくのおもいでがあります。
Romaji: Musume jidai wa ooku no omoide ga arimasu.
English: I have many memories from my girlhood.
Japanese: 彼は自分の娘を溺愛しています。
Kana: かれは自分のむすめをできあいしています。
Romaji: Kare wa jibun no musume o dekiai shiteimasu.
English: He dotes on his daughter.
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