女子会= joshikai + Female speech (Request lesson)
「今日は、男子禁制よ！」
= Kyou wa danshi kinsei yo!
= No men admitted today!
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Today’s lesson is for girls!
First the focus word for today is 女子会 = joshikai. It was nominated for one of 新 語、流行語大賞(=shingo, ryuukougo taishou), award for the new and popular key word of the year 2010.
女子会
女子 = joshi = girls, women
会 = gathering
It means women’s gathering/ women’s get-together.
While 飲み会 (= nomikai ) = drinking party and 合コン (= goukon )= group dating gathering involve men, 女子会 ( = joshikai ) is just for women. (Their age is around 20s ~ 40s)
We, women love going out, eating, chatting and just enjoying one another’s company — you know, girl-talk! This kind of gathering is nothing new but we started to hear this word a couple of years ago.
Alot of restaurants, hotels, or travel agents have been targeting women’s groups with their original
•女子会プラン
= joshikai puran
= special plans for women’s gatherng,
•女子会メニュー
= joshikai menu
= special menu for women’s gathering.
What do we talk about in 女子会= joshikai? All sorts of chitchat to serious 恋バナ (= koibana) = (slang) romantic stories.
We enjoy sharing stories about our daily life, our romances, our work life, friends, traveling, hobbies — just about anything!
We just keep talking on and on and it seems like we never run out of the topics!
Cultural note :
There have been special deals just for women in many places in Japan.
For example, there are special lady’s days called レディースデー= rediisu dei = Lady’s day.
Women can get a special discount on certain days at movie theaters (normally a movie ticket costs 1,800 yen but on Lady’s Day women can get in for only 1,000 yen. This is offered about once a month), special menu at restaurants, bars or special service at hotels (Ex. Women-only floor where they can get special hotel amenities, special food menus or spa services ,etc. )
There are also special seats set aside exclusively for women in some movie theaters, Pachinko (commonly referred to as “Japanese pinball” in English) parlors and there are even 女性優先（専用）車両 = Josei yuusen (senyou) sharyou = train cars just for women on subways during rush hour to protect them from 痴漢 = chikan = perverts.
Note : 痴漢 =chikan = pervert :
Here is a silly video from my crazy friend, Victor from the Japanese for Morons channel (Gimmeaflakeman on Youtube) showing other warnings about 痴漢 = chikan . Punching Pervs 痴漢は許さない！
Do you think this is sexist? How about in your countries? Do you have any special service just for women?
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Today I will give you special レディースサービス= rediisu saabisu = service for women.
I made sound files of all the example sentences for you! 
(Note : Most of my example sentences below are very casual yet very natural as usual. Which means many of them don’t follow the strict grammatical rules, skipping particles, using casual suffixes,etc. )
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From the picture :
Maggie says,
「今日は男子禁制よ！」
= Kyouwa danshi kinsei yo!
= No men admitted today!
• 男子 = men, boys
• 禁制 ＝banned, forbidden, prohibited
(Note : You might know the word 禁止 = kinshi = prohibited, ban.
禁止 (= kinshi ) is a more common word and it is usually used when you prohibit certain actions.
Ex. 駐車禁止 = chuusha kinnshi = No parking
禁制 = kinsei is used when something is restricted or taboo.
If it is no women admitted, we say, 女人禁制 = nyonin kinsei)
Now, she say 〜よ！( = ~ yo!) at the end of the sentence. This is a “female speech”.
A while ago, I have a request to make a lesson on female speech from Cate-san. 
As many of you know, women speech is different from that of men.
Generally speaking female speech is more polite and softer while male speech is rough and blunt.
It is true that some girls talk like boys — using rough Japanese or calling themselves 僕 ( = boku) , and young men have become more 草食系男子 = soushoukei danshi and showed their feminine side and Japanese has become a sort of “neutral” these days, still there is a specific difference between female speech and male speech.
If a man uses female speech, he sounds very effeminate, and if a woman uses male speech, she sounds very rough.
I have met a man whose Japanese was fluent but he talked like a woman because he learned Japanese from his Japanese girlfriend. So be careful! Once you’ve acquired one speech pattern, it may be hard to get rid of it.
So let’s learn some basic female speech suffixes and words today. And if you’re a man? Don’t worry. I’ll include some male speech too, so you will still learn something.
First of all, some Japanese expressions are unisex which means it is possible for either men or women to use them. Some of the expressions in female speech are childish and you’ll hear children using the same patterns.
I will mark
male speech with (*M)
female speech with (*F)
And if the expression is neutral, I’ll use:
(Both *M + *F) .
1) 〜よ = ~ yo
There is the neutral 〜よ(=~yo) suffix that can be used for both genders.
When you suggest something,
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Ex. 一緒にランチしようよ！(Both *M + *F)
= Issho ni ranchi shiyouyo!
= Let’s have lunch together.
Ex.日本語の勉強しようよ！(Both *M + *F)
= Nihongo no benkyou shiyouyo!
= Why don’t you (we) study Japanese?
But the following examples are just for female speech.
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Ex.そうよ！マギーの 言う通り、彼が悪いのよ！(*F)
= Souyo! Maggie no iutoori, kare ga warui noyo!
= Maggie is right! It is his fault!
Ex.ここよ！ここ！(*F)
= Koko yo! koko!
= It’s here! Here!
Note : In some cases, if you add だ( = da) in front of よ (= yo) , it could be used for both genders.
(Some rough expressions indicated with (*M) are only for male speech)
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Ex.1) マギー嬉しそうよ(*F) ！
=Maggie ureshisouyo !
=Maggie looks happy.
マギー嬉しそうだよ (Both *M + *F)
= Maggie ureshisoudayo
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Ex.2) 母からもらったのはこのお財布よ。(*F)
= Haha kara moratta nowa kono osaifuyo.
= The wallet I got from my mother is this one.
〜この財布だよ！(Both *M + *F)
=〜kono saifudayo
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Ex.3) これ全部自分で作ったのよ！(*F)
= Kore zenbu jibun de tsukutta noyo!
= I made all of this by myself.
これ全部自分で作ったんだよ！(Both *M + *F)
= Kore zenbu jibun de tsukuttan dayo!
or
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Ex.4) ここを散らかしたのは誰よ! (with anger) (*F)
= Koko wo chirakashita nowa dare yo!
= Who made a mess here?
〜誰だよ！(*M)
= daredayo!
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Ex.5) だめよ！そんなこと(を）しちゃ！(*F)
= Dameyo! Sonna koto (wo) shicha!
= Don’t do that!
だめだよ! (Both *M + *F)
= Damedayo!
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Ex.6) いやよ！(*F)
= Iyayo!
= No way!
いやだよ！(Both *M + *F)
= Iyadayo
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Ex. 7) これは誰がやったのよ！(with anger) (*F)
= Kore wa darega yattanoyo!
= Who did this?
これは誰がやったんだよ！(*M)
= Kore wa dare ga yattan dayo!
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Ex. 8 ) そうなのよ、参っちゃった。 (*F)
= Sounano yo. Maicchatta.
= That’s right/You are right. What a bummer.
そうなんだよ (*M)
= sounandayo
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Ex. 9) 次マギーの番よ。(*F)
=Tsugi Maggie no ban yo.
=It’s your turn, Maggie!
次マギーの番だよ。(Both *M + *F)
= Tsugi Maggie no ban dayo.
Besides those in the above examples, male speech also has ~よ suffix when they want to strongly emphasize an order.
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Ex. お前がやれよ！(rough) (*M)
= Omae ga yareyo!
= You do that!
Ex. お金貸してくれよ！(rough) (*M)
= Okane kashite kureyo!
= Lend me money!
Ex. もう寝ろよ！(rough) (*M)
= Mou neroyo!
= Sleep already!
Ex.これやれよ！(rough) (*M)
= Kore yareyo!
= Do this!
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2) 〜わよ= ~ wayo : assertive
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Ex.違うわよ！(*F)
= Chigau wayo!
= That’s not true!
Ex.そんなこと言ってないわよ！(*F)
= Sonna koto itte nai wayo!
= I didn’t say that!
Ex.私には、わかんないわよ！(*F)
= Watashi niwa wakannaiwayo!
= I don’t know! (It is too difficult for me.)
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3) 〜 ね = ~ ne : It makes your quotes softer
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Note : 3) & 4) It slightly gives feminine tone but men can use it as well.
Ex.これから宜しくね。(Both *M + *F)
= Korekara yoroshikune.
= meaning (I hope this is beginning of a good relationship.)
Ex.ここで待っててね。(Both *M + *F)
= Koko de mattetene.
= Please wait for me here.
Ex.この本、明日までに返してね。(Both *M + *F)
= Kono hon ashita made ni kaeshitene.
= Please return this book by tomorrow.
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4) 〜よね= ~ yone When you confirm your opinion with others. tag question
Note : It is similar to the English, “right?” and used to emphasize a sentence while asking for agreement from the listeners at the same time. Question marks are not really needed here.
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Ex.マギーって可愛いよね。(Both *M + *F)
= Maggie tte kawaii yone.
= Maggie is cute, isn’t she?
Ex. 日本語って難しいよね。(Both *M + *F)
= Nihongo tte muzukashi yone.
= Japanese is difficult, isn’t it?
Ex. デパートは今日すごい人だったよね。(Both *M + *F)
= Depaato wa kyou sugoi hito dattayone.
= The department stores were full of people today, weren’t they?
Ex.大変なのはこれからよね。 (*F)
= Taihen nanowa korekara yone.
= It was tough, but it will be even harder from now on.
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5) 〜わ = ~ wa : to add female touch to the sentence.
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Ex.知らなかったわ…(*F)
= Shiranakatta wa…
= I didn’t know that…
Ex.そうだったわ (*F)
= Soudatt wa.
= That’s true. / You are right. ( I forgot about that.)
Ex. あ、マギー先生だわ! (*F)
= Ah, Maggie sensei dawa!
= Oh, here is Maggie sensei!
Note: Kansai and other areas have a dialect in which they finish their sentences with わ= wa that can be used by men.
Ex. 怖いわ！
= Kowaiwa!
= You are scaring me.
Ex.よう言うわ！
= You iuwa.
= Stop kidding me!
(Note : よう= you is Kansai dialect of よく = yoku)
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6) 〜わね = ~ wane : When you state your opinion.
i-adjective + わね
verb + わね When you share your feeling with others./ tag question
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Ex.今日は寒いわね。(*F)
= Kyouwa samuiwane.
= It’s cold today, isn’t it?
Ex.そのドレス可愛いわね。(*F)
= Sono doresu kawaii wane.
= That dress is so cute.
Ex.あなたって細かいわね。(*F)
= Anatatte komakai wane.
= You are very picky, aren’t you?
Ex.遠距離恋愛って難しいわね。(*F)
= Enkyori renai tte muzukashii wane.
= Long distance relationships are difficult, aren’t they?
Ex. よく言うわね！(*F)
= Yoku iu wane
= Watch your mouth./You should talk/ Who asked you!
Ex. 苦しいわね。(*F)
= kurushii wane
= It is hard, isn’t it?
Ex. 困ったわね。(*F)
= Komattawane.
= We are in trouble, aren’t we? or This is troublesome isn’t it.
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na-adjective + わね= wane
7) 〜だわね = ~dawane : When you express your opinion./ tag question
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Ex.あの女優さん、綺麗だわね。(*F)
= Ano joyuu san kirei dawane.
= I think that actress is beautiful? / Don’t you think that actress is beautiful?
Ex.今日、子供達、何か静かだわね。(*F)
= Kyou kodomotachi nanka shizuka dawane.
= The children are very quiet today, aren’t they?
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8 ) 〜わよね = + wayone : When you try to confirm your opinion with others, tag question
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Ex.そんなことないわよね。(*F)
= Sonna koto nai wayone.
= That is not true, is it?
Ex.上司は私達のこと、何にもわ かっていないわよね。(*F)
= Joushi wa watashitachi no koto nannimo wakatte inai wayone.
= The supervisors don’t understand us at all, do they?
Ex.マギーはいいわよね。いつも食べて寝て…(*F)
= Maggie wa iiwayone. Itusmo tabete nete….
= I am jealous of Maggie. She just eats and sleeps…
na-adjective + わね= wane
9 ) 〜だわよね = ~ dawayone tag question
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Ex.おばあちゃん、９０歳だけど元気だわよね。(*F)
= Obaachan, kyuujussai dakedo genki dawayone.
= Gradma is 90 years old now, but she is very healthy, isn’t she?
Ex.マギーってもう６歳だわよね。(*F)
= Maggie tte mou rokusai dawayone.
= Maggie is already 6 years old, isn’t she?
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10) 〜 かしら = ~ kashira When you wonder something. “I wonder”
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Ex.明日は雨かしら。(*F)
= Ashita wa ame kashira.
= I wonder if it’ll rain tomorrow.
Ex.どうかしら？(*F)
= Doukashira.
= I wonder…
Ex.これ美味しいかしら。(*F)
= Kore oishii no kashira.
= I wonder if it is delicious.
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11) 〜の = ~ no
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Ex.私、お裁縫ができないの。(*F)+ children
= Watashi osaihou ga dekinaino.
= I can’t sew.
Ex.私、納豆が苦手なの。(*F) + children
= Watashi nattou ga nigate nano.
= I don’t like natto (fermented soybeans.)
(Do you want to know more about 納豆 = Natto?
Go check Japanarchist video! He is sooo funny!!! )
Ex.これとっても高かったの。(*F)+ chlidren
= Kore tottemo takakatta no.
= It was very expensive.
Note : Men use ~の？( =~ no?) as a question.
Ex. 納豆苦手なの？ (Both *M + *F)
= Nattou nigate nano?
= Don’t you like natto?
Ex. 裁縫ができないの？(Both *M + *F)
= Saihou ga dekinai no?
= Can’t you sew?
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12) 〜のね = ~none : When you confirm something / tag question
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Ex. マギーも辛かったのね。(*F)
= Maggie mo tsurakatta none.
= Now I see you (=Maggie) had a hard time, didn’t you?
Ex. ここでお塩を入れればいいのね。(*F)
= Koko de oshio wo irereba ii none.
= So now I can add some salt, right?
13) 〜のよ = ~ noyo : explanatory, assertive (When you emphasize something.)
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Ex. そうなのよ！ (*F)
= Sounanoyo!
= You said it. / That’s right!
Ex. 昨日は本当に忙しかったのよ。(*F)
= Kinou wa hontou ni isogashikattanoyo.
= You know I was so busy yesterday.
Ex. スーパーがお休みだったのよ。(*F)
= Suupaa ga oyasumi dattanoyo.
= You know the supermarket was closed.
14) 〜じゃない = janai (colloquial）
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Ex.いいじゃない、少しぐらいなら食べたって。(*F) + some men might use it.
= IIjanai, sukoshi gurai nara tabetatte.
= Come on! You should eat just a little.
Ex.マギーも手伝ってくれたらいいじゃない。(*F)+ some men might use it.
= Maggie mo tetsudatte kuretara iijanai.
= You should help me, Maggie!
Ex.そのお洋服いいじゃない！(*F)
= Sono oyoufuku iijanai!
= Those clothes look really nice!
Note : Male speech add か= ka in the end. It sounds rough.
Ex.いいじゃないか！(*M)
= IIjanai ka!
= Why not?
Ex.だめじゃないか！(*M)
= Damejanai ka!
= You can’t do that! / Don’t do that!
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15) あら = Ara = Oh, Hey : to show your surprise
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Ex. あら可笑しい。(*F)
= Ara okashii
= Oh, that’s funny!
Ex.あら可愛い。(*F)
= Ara kawaii
= Oh, that’s cute.
Ex.あらどうしたの？(*F)
= Ara doushitano?
= Oh, what’s wrong?
Ex.あら、マギーじゃない！(*F)
= Ara maggie janai!
= Oh, that’s Maggie / Here comes Maggie!
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16) あたし
私 = watashi = I can be used both for men and women.
But あたし ( = atashi ) is used only by women. It sounds too girly, childish or shallow.
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Ex.あたしに何か用？ (*F)
= Atashi ni nanika you?
= What do you want (from me)?
There is a version for わたくし = wataskushi→ あたくし= atakushi
Ex.これあたくしが作ったのよ。(*F)
= Kore atakushi ga tsukutta noyo.
= I made this.
(We may hear this in real life but I think we hear it more often on TV dramas or in comic books for a snobbish rich women role.)
17) Women (especially aged women) tend to add お ( = o ) to words to make them sound more polite more than men.
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•紅茶= koucha = black tea →お紅茶 = okoucha
•砂糖 = satou = sugar →お砂糖 = osatou
•みかん = mikan = tangerine →おみかん = omikan
•手紙 = tegami = letter →お手紙 = otegami
•布団 = ofuton = futon, Japanese bedding→お布団= ofuton
(Men also say お茶 (= ocha) 、お醤油 (=oshouyu), etc but again women tend to overuse お( = o) much more than men.)
Ex. おりんご お一つ如何かしら？ (*F)
= Oringo ohitotsu ikaga kashira?
= Would you like an apple?
Ex. このお肉美味しいわね。(*F)
= Kono oniku oishiiwane.
= This meat is delicious, isn’t it?
1８ ) Others
Some reaction words/expressions are only used by women : Mangatic reaction Japanese Lesson
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•うふふ = ufufu, うふ= ufu When you laugh in a sexy way. (*F)
•キャー! = kyaa When you are surprised or excited. (*F)
•いや〜ん! = Iyaan = “No! “ in a sexy way. (*F)
Even if it’s a unisex word, if you change the intonation, it will sound very effeminate.
Now I have explained the basic female speech patterns. But just because you are a woman, you don’t have to use these.
There are a lot of suffixes that I don’t use. (Ex. 〜わよね = ~ wayone, etc.) Both men and women can use “standard Japanese”, however it would be useful to learn how women talk in Japan. You’ll understand conversations more and enjoy communicating more!
What I would like to do next is to make a lesson dedicated only to girls. Don’t you want to know how to say “that word” in “that kind of situation”?
Anyway, if you have any requests, leave me a message here in the comment section, or get in touch with me by using the contact page or twitter, Maggie Sensei.
Maggie先生より = Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie sensei
女子会はいっつもすごく*盛り上がるの。
= Joshikai wa ittumo sugoku moriagaruno.
= We always get so excited in our women’s gathering.
何を話すかは男子には内緒よ！
= Naniwo hanasu ka wa danshi niwa naishoyo!
= I won’t tell the boys what we talk about!
(*盛り上がる = moriagaru = to get lively)
16 Responses to “女子会= joshikai + Female speech (Request lesson)”
Leave a Reply
@maggiesensei 
alliswhite on March 26th, 2012
i love your web site! you make things look so clear!
Maggie on March 26th, 2012
@alliswhite
I’m happy to hear that!
Thank you for your comment! ありがとう！！
Paris on March 6th, 2011
Hello! Thank you for the lesson!
I have a question about the meaning of ”って”. I see this used in many sentences but I don’t know what it means or when to use it etc.
For example, it was used in some of the sentences from todays lesson, like:
マギーってもう６歳だわよね.
あなたって細かいわね.
日本語って難しいよね.
マギーって可愛いよね.
Thanks for the help ^_^
Maggie on March 6th, 2011
@Paris
Hello Paris!
OK “って” is used instead of subject marker “は”(= wa) or “という~は”(=toiu~ wa) It is casual but we use it all the time.
＊マギーはもう６歳だわよね→マギーってもう６歳だわよね
＊あなたは(or あなたという人は）細かいわね→あなたって細かいわね
＊日本語は（or というものは）難しいよね→日本語って難しいよね
＊マギーは可愛いよね→マギーって可愛いよね.
Also we use it instead of “と”=”to” when we quote something.
＊Paris said hello to Maggie = Parisがマギーによろしくと言っていたよ。→Parisがマギーによろしくって言っていたよ。
* Paris said she likes you. = Parisがあなたのこと好きだと言っていたよ。→ Parisがあなたのこと好きだって言っていたよ。
If I have a chance, I will make a mini lesson.
DaggerTribal on January 11th, 2011
Thank you for this lesson I often visit this site and never post in the comments. I just want you and victor to know how much I appreciate the lesson on here and on youtube don’t stop making them please~ I study Japanese in college but it’s these kind of lessons that help me sound more fluent. Thank you :3
Maggie on January 11th, 2011
@DaggerTribal
Thank you for leaving the comment. Will forward your message to Victor.
So you are studying proper Japanese in college. I will teach you here more casual one. Please feel free to leave any comments and questions here anytime.
Aki on January 10th, 2011
Yukari-sensei, ARIGATOU!!! I loved loved LOVED this lesson, and yes, of course I want more “girls only” lessons ^_~
I wish English had that but it doesn’t really 
I think (but this might be just me dakedo) when guys use “ore” and “omae” it’s SO セクシ うふふ ^_~
to answer your question: no, I can’t really think of anything that gives special discounts to women only in the US… we have lots of discounts for “senior” citizens (55 and older, I think…) but I m 20 so I am not gonna profit from that for a while
and I LOVE how japanese’s got male and female distinctions
and thank u for all the sound recording sensei! hontou ni tasukari mashite m(_)m
<3 this sooo much!! ^^v
Maggie on January 10th, 2011
@Aki
Hello, Aki!! Thank you for your first comment!!
I’m very happy to hear you liked the lesson. I’ve always wondered how you feel about this gender difference. Ever since we, girls, were children, we have been raised to speak proper Japanese.
I mean if a girl talks like a boy, her parents always correct her not to talk like a boy. It’s a pain but I prefer softer Japanese.
Thank you for your information. We do have special discounts for senior citizen as well. But you are right. We have to wait for a while ’til we get the benefit.
Haha, “ore” or “omae” sounds sexy only when cute and sexy guys use it.
Aki on January 10th, 2011
oh yes! haha that’s EXACTLY the greatest charm some japanese guys have: they can be cute and sexy and manly in their speech all at the same time :3 When a guy speaks English he loses some of that…. Spanish has that male and female distinction in some ways too(and that cute “r” similar to japanese^^) and it’s considered the “language of love” in the Western World, at least
I remember when I first watched japanese dramas and didn’t know any japanese I’d pick up words like “ikuzo!” and then my japanese friend was like “no no girls don’t talk like that” heheh ^^;; but then I learned ^^ it’s really fun cause girls can flirt and all by using that “softer Japanese” I love it!! ^o^
nee yukari sensei, how did you learn English?? Cause your English is awesome^^
Maggie on January 10th, 2011
@Aki
It is always refreshing to know what other countries’ people feel about Japanese language. Thank you!!
Have fun trying to use “softer Japanese” !
My English!? Hehe…madamada desu. Hope it is good enough to communicate with everybody here.
Aki on January 10th, 2011
iie iie your english is very good yo!^^ ma soshite sensei, kore kara tameguchi de ii yo? I feel like I know you (yeah it must sound weird but we just had kind of a joshikai talk about guys hehe) so no need for “desu” and all the keigo ne ^^v
Maggie on January 10th, 2011
@Aki
“まだまだです” is a kind of set phrase but I got you! Will use タメ口!! ∠(*^ｰ^*)o
Gianluigi on January 10th, 2011
Interesting…oops sorry, I dropped in even though I am a man
Some of those are often hard to understand (we student lack of the natural sounding in our heads) like よ and の. There are many cases that can be ambiguous.
Anyway talking about culture. In my country, Italy, March 8th is officially recognized as “women day”. Usually women get out together as a group and in those days many restaurants won’t let you reserve tables if it is only a group of men (I guess they want to avoid problems LOL). Men as tradition give to women a yellow kinda flower called “mimosa”.
Maggie on January 10th, 2011
@Gianluigi
Haha, thank you for stopping by. I made a lesson for men as well to avoid using female speech.
Oh so you are from Italy! Thank you for their cultural information. How cool!!
I love mimosa! I should go to Italy on March 8th!!
Laura T on January 10th, 2011
Yukari-sensei:
Great lesson, I loved it. I have to get some of this phrases in my head and use them regularly.
It was a lot of work…. thank you so much.
Laura T
P.S.: BTW, the 20 to 40 years old….. do they ask your actual age at the movies to get the discount hehehe!!!!
Maggie on January 10th, 2011
@Laura T
Hi, Laura! Thank you for checking the lesson!
Haha,there is no age limit to get a discount. As long as we are women!