also: じょろ · じょうろ
prostitute; courtesan
Historical term for a prostitute, especially during the Edo period. In modern contexts, it is archaic and may appear in historical dramas or literature.
In the Edo period, there were many courtesans in Yoshiwara.
This novel depicts the sad fate of a prostitute.
Jorō spider; Trichonephila clavata · spider yōkai; Jorōgumo
brothel
lowest-class prostitute (Edo period)
low-class licensed prostitute (Edo period)
snow woman; yuki jorō
Standard kanji spelling; the reading じょろう is the modern standard.
Obsolete reading; may appear in historical texts.
Obsolete reading; may appear in historical texts.
Rare variant kanji form; 臈 is a non-standard character for this word.
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.
low-class prostitute displayed in a cage (Edo period)
low-class prostitute in Yoshiwara (Edo period)