Word Detail

The Japanese word 童貞 (どうてい, *dōtei*) primarily refers to a male who has never had sexual intercourse. This word carries a strong connotation of virginity. It is more common and direct than its female counterpart. Note that while 童貞 itself only describes the male experience, the concept of virginity applies to both genders. It's important to understand the cultural context, as the meaning and social implications can vary. The word can also be used in a derogatory way, depending on the context and the speaker's intent. The meaning is very direct, and there is generally no ambiguity.

⚫︎彼はまだ童貞です。 Translation: He is still a virgin. ⚫︎童貞を失うことは、人によって大きな意味を持つ。 Translation: Losing one's virginity has a significant meaning for different people. ⚫︎その映画の主人公は童貞だった。 Translation: The protagonist of that movie was a virgin.

This word is generally used to describe a man's sexual inexperience. ⚫︎It can be used in casual conversations, but it is important to be mindful of the context and the relationship with the person you are speaking to. ⚫︎Avoid using it if you are unsure how the other person will react. ⚫︎Be especially cautious in professional settings. ⚫︎In many cases, it’s best to avoid the word altogether unless it's essential to the topic.

⚫︎The word is typically written in kanji as 童貞. ⚫︎The reading is どうてい (*dōtei*) in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎There is no perfect single-word synonym in Japanese. The concept can be expressed with phrases. ⚫︎Possible phrases (though not direct synonyms): ⚫︎性体験がない (*seitaiken ga nai*) - "Has no sexual experience" ⚫︎未経験 (*mikeiken*) - "Unexperienced" ⚫︎バージン (*bājin*) - Borrowed word from English "virgin" (very common and can be used by both men and women)

⚫︎There isn't a single antonym but phrases can express the opposite concept. ⚫︎Possible phrases: ⚫︎経験がある (*keiken ga aru*) - "Has experience" ⚫︎性体験がある (*seitaiken ga aru*) - "Has sexual experience"

彼は童貞を隠すことを恥ずかしいと思っている。 ・Translation: He thinks it is embarrassing to hide his virginity. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the potential social implications associated with being a virgin and how an individual might perceive it.

彼女は彼の童貞の友人に会った。 ・Translation: She met his virgin friend. ・Explanation: This sentence provides an example of using the word to describe someone else, demonstrating the objective usage of the term.

The word 童貞 is formed from: ⚫︎童 (*dō*) - "child," "youth," "boy," or "young person" ⚫︎貞 (*tei*) - "chastity," "fidelity," "purity," or "virginity" The combination literally means something like "boy's virginity" or "youthful chastity," directly reflecting the meaning.