also: せきじょ · しゃくにょ
barren woman; sterile woman
Sensitive, dated term for a woman who cannot bear children. Often considered offensive; use with caution. Modern medical terms like 不妊の女性 are preferred.
In old tales, there are stories of barren women who are eventually blessed with a child after much sorrow.
The word 'umazume' is now considered a discriminatory expression.
Modern, neutral medical term for infertility, applicable to both men and women. Unlike 石女, it is not gender-specific or derogatory.
Most common kanji form for the reading うまずめ.
Obsolete on'yomi reading of 石女.
Obsolete on'yomi reading of 石女.
Explicitly spells out 'woman who does not give birth'; less common.
Rare variant; 不生 means 'not giving birth'.
The reading derives from 産まず女, literally “woman who does not give birth.” 石女 is a conventional character spelling, with 石 suggesting barrenness or hardness.