Short answer
Otokonoko (男の娘) is a Japanese term for a man whose appearance and style are feminine. It is a play on words: it sounds exactly like otoko no ko (男の子, “boy”), but swaps the last character for 娘, “daughter” or “girl”. This guide explains the word, the related term josō (女装), and how to find creators who use these words on MyFans.
What the word means
Written 男の娘 and read otokonoko, the word combines 男 (man, male) with 娘 (daughter, girl). Spoken aloud it is identical to 男の子, the ordinary word for “boy”, so the joke only shows in writing. The English Wikipedia article describes otokonoko as a term for men who have a culturally feminine gender expression.
Japanese Wikipedia calls it internet slang, and notes it was being written online around 2000 and spread more widely in the 2010s. English Wikipedia places its origin in Japanese manga and internet culture, and links it to much older traditions of male crossdressing in Japan, such as onnagata, the male actors who play women’s roles in kabuki.
Otokonoko and josō (女装)
Josō (女装) is the standard dictionary word. Japanese dictionaries such as the Digital Daijisen define it simply as a man dressing as a woman, or the outfit itself. The Nipponica encyclopedia notes that the motives vary widely, from theatre and festivals to costume and personal expression.
The two words overlap but aren’t the same. Josō names the act of dressing in women’s clothing. Otokonoko names a person and a look, and Japanese Wikipedia notes it is mainly a word others use to describe how feminine someone looks. You’ll also see 女装男子 (josō danshi, “crossdressing guy”) on profiles.
| Term | Reading | What it refers to |
|---|---|---|
| 男の娘 | otokonoko | A man with a feminine look and style; a play on 男の子, “boy” |
| 女装 | josō | A man dressing in women’s clothes; the general dictionary word |
| 女装男子 | josō danshi | A man who crossdresses; a casual profile label |
| 女形 | onnagata | Male kabuki actors who play women’s roles |
Using the words respectfully
These are words about style and presentation. They don’t tell you how any individual describes their own gender, and Japanese Wikipedia treats them as terms about clothing and appearance. The safest approach is the one you’d take anywhere: go by the words a creator uses about themselves, and use the name and pronouns they use.
In English you may see translations that are dated or used as insults. Otokonoko or josō, or the creator’s own description, avoid that problem. Our glossary of Japanese creator terms lists 男の娘 and 女装 alongside other profile words.
How to find these creators on MyFans
MyFans is a Japanese site, so the Japanese words work best. Type 男の娘 into MyFans search in the exact form creators use; 女装 and 女装男子 find related accounts. Creators often build their pages around fashion: outfit sets, make-up, wigs and self-shot looks.
Like any MyFans page, content follows Japan’s rules: MyFans requires mosaics on explicit areas, and only people 18 or over can use it. Our guide to finding Japanese creators on MyFans explains search in more detail.
On JapanCreatorFind, every creator is a Japan-based MyFans creator who has agreed to be featured, with an English profile. Browse creators and look for these terms in their profiles.
Creators to start with
Quick answers
What does otokonoko mean?
Otokonoko (男の娘) is a Japanese term for a man with a feminine appearance and style. It plays on 男の子 (otoko no ko), the word for “boy”.
How do you pronounce 男の娘?
Otokonoko (おとこのこ), exactly like 男の子. The difference is only in the last character: 娘 instead of 子.
What is the difference between otokonoko and josō?
Josō (女装) is the general word for a man dressing in women’s clothes. Otokonoko describes a person and a look: how feminine someone appears.
Does otokonoko say anything about gender identity?
Not in itself. It describes style and presentation. Go by how each creator describes themselves.
How do I search for otokonoko creators on MyFans?
Search 男の娘 in Japanese. 女装 and 女装男子 find related accounts.
Where does the word come from?
Wikipedia says it grew out of Japanese manga and internet culture. Japanese Wikipedia notes it spread widely in the 2010s.
Keep reading
- Otokonoko (Wikipedia) (English)
- 男の娘 (Wikipedia) (Japanese)
- 女装 (Kotobank: Digital Daijisen, Nihon Kokugo Daijiten and Nipponica encyclopedia entries) (Japanese)
- Mosaic rules (MyFans help) (Japanese) · English version
- Can minors use MyFans? (MyFans help) (Japanese) · English version
- myfans terms of use (myfans.jp) (Japanese)