How to say "girlfriend" in Japanese

• ガールフレンドCommon
  nounThe direct borrowing of English 'girlfriend'; depending on context it can mean a romantic partner or simply a friend who is a girl, so the romantic reading is not automatic.
  私のガールフレンドは踊おどりがうまい。↗

  My girlfriend is a good dancer.
• 恋人こいびとJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA sweetheart or lover of either sex; choose it for 'girlfriend' when gender is not the point, such as asking whether someone has a partner.
  私は恋人こいびとを「ダーリン」と呼よびます。↗

  I call my sweetheart darling.
• 彼女かのじょJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounRefers to one's girlfriend in everyday speech; it also means 'she', so context tells the listener whether the pronoun or the romantic sense is meant.
  僕ぼくの彼女かのじょはカナダへいってしまった。↗

  My girlfriend has gone to Canada.
• 女おんなJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounA woman someone is romantically involved with — a lover or mistress, 'someone's woman' — often with a possessive or coarse nuance; for plain 'girlfriend' it is seldom the word you want.

For a girlfriend use 彼女; use 恋人 for a sweetheart or partner of either sex; 「ガールフレンド」 is the loanword, covering a romantic girlfriend or a female friend; 女 suggests a lover or mistress, not a neutral girlfriend.

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

• ガールフレンドgirl friend
• 恋人こいびとlover
• 好き同士すきどうしlover
• 交際相手こうさいあいてperson one is dating
• 彼女かのじょgirlfriend
• 女おんなfemale lover
• いい人いいひと(one's) lover