Happy Women's Day! 妇女节(fùnǚjié)快乐(kuàilè)！Women's day is on March 8 三月(sānyuè)八号(bāhào) here in China. So in Chinese we will also say 三八节(sānbājié)，or 三八妇女节(sānbā fùnǚjié).

But usually in Chinese, women do not want to be called 妇女(fùnǚ). This is because "妇女(fùnǚ)" is generally used to refer to elder and married women. Then how do you address a woman in Chinese? Listen to the podcast:

I think most of you already know female in Chinese is 女(nǚ).

Young girls are 女孩子(nǚháizi)，or we northern Chinese will say女孩儿(nǚháir).It  can be used to refer to a female who is underage, or just means a young woman.

女孩子(nǚháizi)都(dōu)喜欢(xǐhuan)漂亮(piàoliang)的(de)衣服(yīfu)。

All girls like beautiful clothing.

I know in spoken English you can call your female friends “girls”. In this case, Chinese will use the word 姐妹(jiěmèi) sisters. 

But be careful, this can't be use in a formal occasion. 

When you want to address a female in formal occasion. You can use this word:

女士(nǚshì)，which means lady or madam.女士(nǚshì) can be used to an adult woman of any age, married or unmarried both ok.

女士(nǚshì)，您(nín)的(de)房间(fángjiān)在(zài)3楼(lóu)。

Madam, your room is on the third floor.

You can also put the woman's name before 女士(nǚshì). For example, my family name is Chen. So you can call me 陈(chén)女士(nǚshì) Ms. Chen. Chinese women do not change their surnames after marriage, so the title Ms.女士(nǚshì) is more appropriate.

When you are talking about women in the third person, not address someone face to face, you can just say 女人(nǚrén).

你(nǐ)认识(rènshi)那个(nàgè)穿(chuān)红色(hóngsè)衣服(yīfu)的(de)女人(nǚrén)吗(ma)？

Do you know the woman in red?

And for gender or collective term for women, we use 女性(nǚxìng). 

If you have a female friend or loved one, please say 三八(sānbā)妇女节(fùnǚjié)快乐(kuàilè) to them! And if you are interested in learning Chinese with our BLCU Chinese teachers, please check our website www.eblcu.com for more online Chinese courses!