หญิง

Explanation

The core idea of หญิง is belonging to the female rather than the male category. As a standalone noun, it commonly appears in contrasts such as หญิงและชาย (“women and men”), as well as in news, formal writing, and public language. In ordinary conversation, ผู้หญิง is normally used for “woman.” After another noun, หญิง identifies a female person, a women’s division, or something intended for women, as in นักกีฬาหญิง (“female athlete”) and ห้องน้ำหญิง (“women’s restroom”). The classifier for people is คน. For example, หญิงสาวสองคน means “two young women.”

Usage

It is common on forms, public signs, hospital or school classifications, women’s sports divisions, and in written contrasts between women and men. When referring to a particular woman in everyday conversation, ผู้หญิงคนนั้น (“that woman”) is more natural.

Caution

หญิง by itself does not mean “wife” or “girlfriend.” For a female animal, ตัวเมีย is normally used. Referring to a person simply as หญิง in casual conversation can sound formal, written, or headline-like.

1 woman synonyms

• ผู้หญิง

  phûu yǐŋ woman

  ผู้หญิง is the usual everyday word for a woman. หญิง on its own is more concise and formal, and is common in writing, public labels, and contrasts between women and men.

• สาว

  sǎaw young woman

  สาว usually means a young woman and implies youth. หญิง does not specify age and can refer to women in general.

2 female synonyms

• ตัวเมีย

  ตัวเมีย is the ordinary term for a female animal. หญิง is used chiefly of humans, although เพศหญิง may label an animal as female in classifications or records.