also: せんにょ · せんにゅ
noun
A celestial or supernatural female being from Chinese/Japanese mythology, often depicted as a beautiful, ethereal woman living in the heavens or mountains.
昔話には、よく仙女が登場する。
Fairies often appear in old tales.
彼女はまるで仙女のように美しかった。
She was as beautiful as a nymph.
Rare reading; may be encountered in older texts.
妖精 is a broader term for any fairy, sprite, or supernatural being, while 仙女 specifically refers to a female celestial being or nymph.
天女 is a heavenly maiden or celestial nymph, often associated with Buddhist mythology, whereas 仙女 is more Taoist and can refer to mountain fairies or immortal women.
From Chinese 仙女 (xiānnǚ), meaning 'female immortal' or 'fairy'. The kanji 仙 refers to a hermit or immortal, and 女 means woman.