宅女

Chinese

		residence	female; woman; daughter
trad. (宅女)		宅	女
simp. ^#(宅女)		宅	女

Etymology

宅 (zhái), from Japanese お宅 (otaku) + 女 (nǚ, “woman”).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): zháinǚ

(Zhuyin): ㄓㄞˊ ㄋㄩˇ
Cantonese (Jyutping): zaak⁶ neoi^5-2

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: zháinǚ
  - Zhuyin: ㄓㄞˊ ㄋㄩˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: jháinyǔ
  - Wade–Giles: chai²-nü³
  - Yale: jái-nyǔ
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jairneu
  - Palladius: чжайнюй (čžajnjuj)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
  - Jyutping: zaak⁶ neoi^5-2
  - Yale: jaahk néui
  - Cantonese Pinyin: dzaak⁹ noey^5-2
  - Guangdong Romanization: zag⁶ nêu^5-2
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡saːk̚² nɵy̯¹³⁻³⁵/

Noun

宅女

(neologism, slang) (female) nerd; homebody

Usage notes

The original intended meaning reflected the derogatory nature of the original Japanese word. However, many women have begun to use 宅女 in a self-deprecating or slightly humorous way when referring to themselves.

Related terms

宅男 (zháinán, “a (male) nerd or homebody”)
御宅族 (yùzháizú, “otaku”)