女じょ郎ろう

also: じょろ · じょうろ

じょ

ろ

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Historical term for a prostitute, especially during the Edo period. In modern contexts, it is archaic and may appear in historical dramas or literature.

江え戸ど時じ代だい、吉よし原わらには多おおくの女じょ郎ろうがいた。
In the Edo period, there were many courtesans in Yoshiwara.
この小しょう説せつでは、女じょ郎ろうの悲かなしい運うん命めいが描えがかれている。
This novel depicts the sad fate of a prostitute.

Expressions

猫ねこにまたたびお女じょ郎ろうに小こ判ばんeveryone has their favorite; pick the right thing to please someone

Kanji

女woman, female
郎son, counter for sons
臈year-end sacrifice, dried meat

Don't confuse with

野や郎ろう
野郎 (やろう, 'guy/bastard') and 女郎 (じょろう, 'courtesan/prostitute') look almost identical in kanji but differ completely in reading and meaning.

Word family· 10

女じょ郎ろう蜘蛛ぐも
Jorō spider; Trichonephila clavata · spider yōkai; Jorōgumo
女じょ郎ろう屋や
brothel
局つぼね女じょ郎ろう
lowest-class prostitute (Edo period)
端はし女じょ郎ろう
low-class licensed prostitute (Edo period)
雪ゆき女じょ郎ろう
snow woman; yuki jorō

Show 5 more

女じょ郎ろう買かい
buying the services of a prostitute; whoring
散さん茶ちゃ女じょ郎ろう
fairly high-ranking Yoshiwara prostitute (Edo period)
格こう子し女じょ郎ろう
second-rank prostitute (Edo period)
見み世せ女じょ郎ろう
low-class prostitute displayed in a cage (Edo period)
梅うめ茶ちゃ女じょ郎ろう
low-class prostitute in Yoshiwara (Edo period)

Written forms

女郎Usage92%
- じょろう
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading じょろう is the modern standard.
- じょろ
  out-dated reading
  Obsolete reading; may appear in historical texts.
- じょうろ
  out-dated reading
  Obsolete reading; may appear in historical texts.
ジョロUsage5%
ジョロウUsage3%
女じょ臈ろう
Rare variant kanji form; 臈 is a non-standard character for this word.
じょろ
out-dated reading
じょうろ
out-dated reading

Etymology

女郎 originally meant a young woman or lady, continuing a Chinese expression of respectful address. In Japanese it later became a designation for courtesans and prostitutes, especially during the Edo period.