Translation guide
A woman who seduces, often with a connotation of charm, allure, and sometimes danger. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various terms that range from neutral to literary, and often carry nuances of temptation, enchantment, or fatal attraction.
To refer to a woman who uses her charm to attract or lead someone astray, often in a romantic or sexual context.
A straightforward, neutral phrase meaning 'a woman who seduces'. It directly describes the action of tempting or alluring someone.
彼は誘惑する女に簡単に引っかかった。
He easily fell for the seductress.
To describe a dangerously attractive woman who leads men into compromising or disastrous situations, often in film noir or literature.
The direct loanword from French, commonly used in Japanese to refer to the archetype of a seductive and dangerous woman in movies and books.
彼女は映画の中で典型的なファム・ファタールを演じた。
She played a typical femme fatale in the movie.
To emphasize the act of tempting or luring someone into desire or sin, often with a moral or religious undertone.
A gender-neutral term for 'tempter/temptress'. When context makes it clear, it can refer specifically to a woman. It carries a slightly formal or biblical tone.
彼女は彼にとって危険な誘惑者だった。
She was a dangerous temptress to him.
All three refer to a dangerously attractive woman, but 妖婦 (ようふ) is a classical term often found in historical or mythological contexts, 魔性の女 (ましょうのおんな) emphasizes a demonic or supernatural allure, and ファム・ファタール is a modern loanword used specifically for the film/literary archetype.
妖婦の伝説は古くから語り継がれている。
Legends of the seductress have been passed down since ancient times.
彼は魔性の女に取り憑かれたようだ。
He seems possessed by a femme fatale.
A colloquial term for a woman who easily attracts and manipulates men; a 'man-charmer' or 'femme fatale' in a more casual sense. Can be derogatory.
あの女は男たらしで有名だ。
That woman is famous for being a seductress.
A literary or historical term for a bewitching woman, often with supernatural or fatal connotations. Similar to 'femme fatale' or 'enchantress'.
その物語の妖婦は多くの男を破滅させた。
The seductress in that story ruined many men.
Literally 'woman of demonic nature', this phrase captures the idea of a dangerously alluring woman whose charm is almost supernatural. Often used in fiction and drama.
彼は魔性の女に心を奪われた。
He was captivated by the femme fatale.
A more intense expression meaning 'a woman who captivates to death' or 'bewitches fatally'. Used in dramatic or sensational contexts.
彼は悩殺する女の魅力に抗えなかった。
He couldn't resist the charms of the seductress.
その女優はハリウッドのファム・ファタールとして有名だ。
That actress is famous as a Hollywood femme fatale.
There is no single, perfect Japanese equivalent for 'seductress'. Using a direct translation like 誘惑女 (ゆうわくおんな) is not natural. Instead, choose a term based on the nuance you want to convey: neutral description (誘惑する女), casual/manipulative (男たらし), or literary/dangerous (妖婦, 魔性の女).
その女優はハリウッドのファム・ファタールとして有名だ。
That actress is famous as a Hollywood femme fatale.
There is no single, perfect Japanese equivalent for 'seductress'. Using a direct translation like 誘惑女 (ゆうわくおんな) is not natural. Instead, choose a term based on the nuance you want to convey: neutral description (誘惑する女), casual/manipulative (男たらし), or literary/dangerous (妖婦, 魔性の女).