How to say "feminine" in Japanese

• 女性的じょせいてきCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'feminine' as a neutral, descriptive attribute — a feminine look, style, or atmosphere. Because it simply labels the quality, it can also describe a man as effeminate.
  中なかには女性的じょせいてきであると言いうよりも男性的だんせいてきに見みえる女性じょせいもいる。↗

  Some women look more masculine than feminine.
• 女らしいおんならしいCommon
  i-adjectiveCovers 'feminine' in the sense of womanly or ladylike: having the qualities regarded as typical of a woman, typically said of a person's manner or behavior.
  スージーには女おんならしさがほとんどなかった。↗

  Susie wasn't very feminine.

Use 女性的 for a neutral, descriptive 'feminine' quality in appearance or style, and 「女らしい」 when you mean womanly or ladylike — having the qualities regarded as typical of a woman.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 女性的じょせいてきfeminine
• 女らしいおんならしいwomanly
• フェミニンfeminine
• 女性らしいじょせいらしいfeminine
• 女っぽいおんなっぽいwomanly
• なよっちいweak
• 女臭いおんなくさいwomanly