chastity (of a woman); female virtue
Specifically denotes a woman's chastity or fidelity, often in a traditional or historical context. Commonly used in the compound 貞操 (teisō).
In the past, women were taught to value chastity before marriage.
male virginity; male virgin · Catholic nun; sister
chastity; virtue; fidelity
unfaithfulness; infidelity; unchastity
chastity; virtue; fidelity; feminine modesty
chastity; fidelity; faithfulness; virtue
Standard kanji form for both senses.
The kanji 貞 originally depicted a divination vessel and a cowrie shell, suggesting 'to divine' or 'to inquire,' later extended to mean 'correct' or 'upright.' The reading てい is the on'yomi (Sino-Japanese).
extreme faithfulness; steadfast chastity
man who has only had sex with sex workers