How to say "actress" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 俳優はいゆうnounThe general word for an actor, used of women as well as men. Choose it when gender is not the point or when speaking of the profession, as in credits or news reports.彼は俳優になるべきだった。↗He ought to have been an actor.
- 女優じょゆうnounThe specific word for a female actor and the closest match to 'actress'. Use it for a woman who acts in film, television, or on stage, where English would say actress rather than actor.
- 役者やくしゃnounAn actor or actress, with a flavor of stage performance and the actor's craft. It is not the usual word for a female film or television star; 女優 fits that case better.
- nounA loanword meaning actress, covering the same ground as 女優. This is seldom the word you want for 'actress'; in ordinary speech and writing, 女優 is the natural choice.
Choose 女優 for a female actor, 俳優 when gender is not the point or you mean the profession generally, 役者 for a stage-and-craft flavor, and 「アクトレス」 only as a loanword alternative to 女優.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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