General term for an adult human male. Also used as a prefix in compounds like 男言葉 or 男社会.
See also: 女 (おんな)
Who is that man?
男の子が公園で遊んでいる。
A boy is playing in the park.
Colloquial reference to a male person, often used among friends or in casual speech. Can sound rough or familiar depending on context.
あいつはいい男だよ。
That guy is a good fellow.
飲み屋で変な男に絡まれた。
I was accosted by a weird guy at the bar.
boyfriend; male lover
Refers to a romantic male partner. Often used with possessive expressions like 私の男 or あの女の男.
彼女にはもう男がいるらしい。
It seems she already has a boyfriend.
あの男と別れて正解だった。
Breaking up with that man was the right decision.
manliness; manly honor
Abstract quality of being a 'real man', often tied to honor, reputation, or stoicism. Common in set phrases like 男が廃る or 男を見せる.
ここで逃げたら男が廃る。
If I run away now, I'll lose my manly honor.
彼はここぞという時に男を見せた。
He showed his manliness when it really counted.
As a man, I will definitely keep that promise.
I never want to see that guy again.
It's pathetic that he cried even though he's a man.
The wife makes sure to let her husband keep face in front of others.
男 is the plain, everyday Japanese word for a man, while ガイ is a katakana loanword that sounds casual and English-flavored.
男 is the native Japanese word for a man and sounds natural as a standalone noun, while マン is mainly a loanword suffix attached to job or role names.
男 is the neutral, everyday word for 'man', while 漢 is a slangy, idealized term praising a man's strength and reliability.
男 is the neutral, plain word for 'man', whereas 野郎 is slangy and can carry either rough camaraderie or outright contempt.
男 is the plain, everyday word for 'man/men', while メンズ (sense 2) is a slangier, more playful way to say the same thing.
chivalrous spirit; chivalry
male presence; masculine aura
abominable snowman; yeti
man born in the same zodiac year as the current year
male role; male part
men's things; menswear · men's; for men
male psychology; a man's heart; male instincts
adultery (by a wife); cheating on one's husband · male lover of a married woman; paramour
gentle-natured man · man of delicate features; slender man · effeminate man; feeble man
strong-minded; spirited; mannish
attractive to men; appealing to men · woman who likes men; amorous woman
small man; short man
misandry; man-hater
mountain man; woodsman; alpinist
rugged mountain (of a pair)
men; group of men · manservant; male servant · male attendants to an actor
man's weeping; a man crying openly
widower; divorced man not remarried · (long-term) bachelor
handsome man; sexy man; lady-killer · male lover
male help; male labor · man's handwriting · kanji
manly; masculine; boyish
ugly man · strong, brawny man
Kyoto man; man from Kyoto
farmhand; tenant farmer
unpopular man; man who isn't well-liked by women
feminine man; effeminate man · masculine woman; mannish woman
male temple employee; temple handyman