Learn 娘 in words used to talk about daughters and family.

The idea

娘 has nine strokes; use the linked diagram for their order. 娘（むすめ）means daughter, 娘さん（むすめさん）is a polite way to refer to someone else’s daughter, and 一人娘（ひとりむすめ）means an only daughter. Learn the reading with each complete word.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample
娘むすめMy daughter likes music.
娘さんむすめさんHow old is your daughter?
一人娘ひとりむすめShe is an only daughter.

Examples

  • 娘むすめは音楽おんがくが好すきです。My daughter likes music.
  • 娘むすめは図書館としょかんで本ほんを読よんでいます。My daughter is reading a book in the library.
  • 娘むすめさんは何歳なんさいですか。How old is your daughter?
  • 昨日きのう、娘むすめと公園こうえんに行いきました。I went to the park with my daughter yesterday.
  • 彼女かのじょは一人娘ひとりむすめです。She is an only daughter.
  • 娘むすめが晩ばんご飯はんを作つくりました。My daughter made dinner.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

When speaking to outsiders, 娘 is usual for your own daughter; 娘さん is respectful when referring to another person’s daughter. 一人娘 does not by itself say whether she has brothers.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 娘 in hiragana.

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    むすめ

    娘 is むすめ. 娘は音楽が好きです means “My daughter likes music.”

  2. Write the reading of 娘さん in hiragana.

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    むすめさん

    娘さん is むすめさん. さん adds respect when referring to another person’s daughter.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 一人＿（ひとりむすめ）［娘／息］.

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    娘

    娘 completes 一人娘（ひとりむすめ）, an only daughter; 息 does not form this word.

Use it today

Write 娘 following the diagram, cover the readings, then read 娘さん and 一人娘 aloud. Make a sentence about a family.