婦
lady, woman, wife, bride
Readings
On'yomi
- フ
Kun'yomi
- よめ
Nanori
- ね
Meaning
婦 centers on a woman in a domestic or marital role: a lady, wife, or bride. The meanings are connected by the idea of a woman within a household context.
Most common words using 婦
22 of 161- 夫婦ふうふN3
married couple; husband and wife; man and wife
- 主婦しゅふN3
housewife; mistress (of the house); homemaker
- 婦人ふじんN3
woman; lady; adult female
- 妊婦にんぷ
pregnant woman
- 娼婦しょうふ
prostitute
- 産婦人科さんふじんかN1
maternity and gynaecology department (gynecology); department of obstetrics and gynaecology (gynecology)
- 新婦しんぷ
bride
- 婦長ふちょう
head nurse
- 裸婦らふ
nude woman; female nude
- 婦女ふじょN1
woman; womankind
- 助産婦じょさんぷ
midwife
- 寡婦かふ
widow; divorced woman not remarried; unmarried woman
- 婦女子ふじょし
women and children
- 妊産婦にんさんぷ
expectant and nursing mothers
- 看護婦かんごふN4
(female) nurse
- 保健婦ほけんふ
(female) public health nurse
- 婦女暴行ふじょぼうこう
sexual assault (of a woman); rape
- 家政婦かせいふN1
housekeeper; maid
- 売春婦ばいしゅんふ
prostitute
- 婦人科ふじんか
gynecology department
- 老夫婦ろうふうふ
old couple; elderly couple
- 老婦ろうふ
old woman
Study
Etymology
婦 combines 女 (woman) with 帚 (broom), reflecting the traditional association of a married woman with domestic duties. The exact historical development is well established.
Meaning mnemonic
A woman 女 with a broom 帚 represents a lady who manages the household, like a wife or bride.
Reading mnemonic
For フ, imagine a woman in a full apron sweeping with a broom: full -> フ, and she is the lady of the house.