姫（ひめ、hime）
- princess

The Japanese word 姫, read as ひめ (hime), primarily means "princess" or "lady" of noble birth. It refers to a young woman of royal or aristocratic status. However, 姫 can also be used more broadly to refer to a beautiful or elegant young woman. The meaning often conveys a sense of grace, delicateness, and sometimes, a certain degree of power or authority.

⚫︎ お姫様 Translation: Princess (formal) ⚫︎ 姫君 Translation: Princess (less formal, often used in historical contexts or literature)

⚫︎ The word 姫 is used to describe or refer to a female of noble birth, typically a princess or a daughter of a noble family. ⚫︎ It is also used in a figurative sense to describe a beautiful or refined young woman. ⚫︎ The formality of the usage can vary depending on the context and the accompanying words. For example, お姫様 is more formal than 姫君. ⚫︎ In modern usage, 姫 might be used playfully or humorously to refer to a pampered or spoiled young woman.

⚫︎ Kanji: 姫 ⚫︎ Hiragana: ひめ ⚫︎ Katakana: This word is not commonly written in katakana. ⚫︎ Okurigana: The okurigana (suffix hiragana) is always "ひめ". There are no variations.

⚫︎ 王女 (おうじょ - oujo): Princess (formal) ⚫︎ 令嬢 (れいじょう - reijou): Daughter of a noble family, young lady (formal) ⚫︎ お嬢様 (おじょうさま - ojou-sama): Young lady, daughter (respectful)

There isn't a direct antonym. The opposite would be a person of low social standing. Words like: ⚫︎ 庶民 (しょみん - shomin): Commoner ⚫︎ 平民 (へいみん - heimin): Commoner, plebian

彼女はとても美しい姫のような女性です。 ・Translation: She is a very beautiful woman, like a princess. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 姫 to describe a woman's beauty and elegance.

その昔、ある国に美しい姫が住んでいました。 ・Translation: Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess in a certain country. ・Explanation: This sentence sets the scene for a fairy tale, using 姫 to establish the character.

The etymology of 姫 is related to the historical context of Japan. The word developed alongside the rise of aristocratic families and the imperial court. It originally referred to a woman of a high-ranking family and evolved to specifically mean a princess or lady. The origin of the kanji character is related to the meaning of "female".