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舞妓 (まいこ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

舞妓まいこ

ま

い

こ

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

maiko; apprentice geisha (in Kyoto)

Specifically refers to young women training to become geisha in Kyoto. Distinct from geisha (芸者) and from hangyoku (半玉) in other regions.

See also: 芸者

京きょう都との花はな見み小こう路じで舞妓まいこさんを見みかけました。
I saw a maiko on Hanamikoji Street in Kyoto.
舞妓まいこは芸げい者しゃになるために厳きびしい稽けい古こを積つむ。
Maiko undergo rigorous training to become geisha.

Written forms

舞妓Usage58%
- まいこ
  Standard kanji spelling for apprentice geisha in Kyoto. High priority in news and frequency.
- ぶぎ

舞まい

子こ

Usage42%

Alternate kanji spelling, less common but still used.

ぶぎ

Kanji

舞dance, flit, circle
妓stretch, singing girl, geisha
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM

Similar words

芸げい者しゃ
Geisha are fully trained entertainers, while maiko are apprentices still in training, typically younger and wearing more elaborate hairstyles and kimono.
半はん玉ぎょく
Hangyoku is the term for apprentice geisha in regions outside Kyoto, such as Tokyo. Maiko is specific to Kyoto.

Etymology

舞 (dance) + 妓 (female entertainer). The reading まいこ is a kun'yomi compound. The alternate reading ぶぎ is on'yomi and rare.