'Nǚ yǒu' literally means 'female friend', but in modern standard Mandarin, it specifically refers to a romantic female partner — that is, a girlfriend. The first character 女 (nǚ) means 'woman' or 'female', and the second character 友 (yǒu) means 'friend'. Together, they form a compound noun indicating an intimate, non-familial relationship with a woman, distinct from general friendship. It carries no implication of marriage or long-term commitment unless context specifies otherwise.

This term is neutral in register and widely used in both spoken and written Chinese — in casual conversations, social media, news reports, and formal documents when referring to romantic relationships. It applies regardless of age or marital status, though younger speakers may sometimes use it more loosely. Unlike English 'girlfriend', 女友 does not inherently suggest exclusivity or seriousness; context or additional words (e.g., 长期女友 'long-term girlfriend') clarify nuance.