When the formation data identifies 女 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
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Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
女
Radical 38 of 214 · 3 strokes
Woman
nǚ
Unicode uses 女 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is woman, girl; feminine; Kangxi radical 38; 10th lunar mansion, determinative star ε Aquarii (Albali). The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
50 course characters108 character–word links
Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.
The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.
Character index
50 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 50 characters.
女nǚwoman, girl; femaleDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of a woman. Depicts a stick-figure with breasts sitting or squatting down.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- Not available
HSK words with 女4 words in this course
好hǎogood, excellent, fine; proper, suitable; wellDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: It is good (好) for a woman (女) and her child (子) to be together.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 子Semantic componentson; child
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 子
HSK words with 好14 words in this course
妈māmother, mamaDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 马 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 马Phonetic componenthorse
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 马
HSK words with 妈1 word in this course
她tāshe, herDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 也 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 也Phonetic componentalso
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 也
HSK words with 她1 word in this course
姐jiěelder sister; miss, young ladyDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 且 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 且Phonetic componentmoreover
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 且
HSK words with 姐2 words in this course
媽māmother, mamaDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 馬 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 馬Phonetic componenthorse
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 馬
HSK words with 媽1 word in this course
奶nǎimilk; breasts; nurse, grandmotherDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 乃 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 乃Phonetic componentthus; so; be
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 乃
HSK words with 奶2 words in this course
妹mèiyounger sisterDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 未 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 未Phonetic componentnot yet; not
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 未
HSK words with 妹1 word in this course
妻qīwifeDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Pictograph of a hand grabbing a woman's hair. In ancient China, women of marriagable age wore hairpins (compare with 每).
- ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
- 又Pictographic component(hand); again
- 女Pictographic componentwoman; female
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 十 + 彐 + 女
HSK words with 妻1 word in this course
始shǐto begin, to start; beginningDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 台 represents the sound. The 女 (woman) component is used because life begins inside a woman.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 台Phonetic componentplatform; station; (simp.) table; counter
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 台
HSK words with 始3 words in this course
姓xìngname, family name, surname; clan, peopleDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 生 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 生Phonetic componentbe born; life
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 生
HSK words with 姓2 words in this course
如rúas, as if, like, such as, supposingDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 女 represents the sound. 口 (mouth) indicates that the character is only "mouthed", i.e. only used for its phonetic value.
- 口Semantic componentmouth
- 女Phonetic componentwoman; female
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 口
HSK words with 如11 words in this course
姨yíaunt, mother's sisterDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 夷 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 夷Phonetic componentbarbarians; wipe out
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 夷
HSK words with 姨1 word in this course
婚hūnto get married; marriage, weddingDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 昏 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 昏Phonetic componenttwilight; muddle-headed
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 昏
HSK words with 婚4 words in this course
妇fùmarried woman; wifeDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Simplified form of 婦. Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 帚 represents the sound. The 帚 (broom) component may also be related to the meaning, since women were traditionally responsible for household chores.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 彐Phonetic componentbroom
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 彐
HSK words with 妇3 words in this course
妨fángdamage, harm; to impede, to obstruct; to undermineDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 方 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 方Phonetic componentsquare; direction; side
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 方
HSK words with 妨2 words in this course
妙miàomysterious, subtle; clever, exquisite, wonderfulDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 少 represents the sound. Simplified form of 玅.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 少Phonetic componentless; few
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 少
HSK words with 妙4 words in this course
姑gūfather's sister; husband's motherDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 古 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 古Phonetic componentancient; old
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 古
HSK words with 姑3 words in this course
委wěito appoint, to commission, to sendDetails+
formation note
Formation: Origin unclear.
- 禾Role uncleargrain
- 女Role unclearwoman; female
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 禾 + 女
HSK words with 委3 words in this course
姥lǎomaternal grandmother; midwifeDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: An older 老 woman 女; 老 also provides the pronunciation
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 老
HSK words with 姥1 word in this course
威wēimight, power, prestige; to dominateDetails+
semantic formation
Formation: 戌 is a pictograph of an axe, representing military power. 女 possibly alludes to the domestic power wielded by mothers-in-law in ancient China.
- 戌Semantic component11th earthly branch
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 戌 + 女
HSK words with 威7 words in this course
姻yīnrelatives by marriageDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A woman 女 related by 因 marriage
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 因
HSK words with 姻1 word in this course
姿zīgrace, good looks; bearing, poise, postureDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 次 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 次Phonetic componenttime; next; second
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 次 + 女
HSK words with 姿2 words in this course
娘niángmother; young girl; woman; wifeDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 良 represents the sound. Simplified form of 孃.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 良Phonetic componentgood; fine
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 良
HSK words with 娘2 words in this course
娛yúpleasure, enjoyment, amusementDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 吳 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 吳Phonetic componentclamorous
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 吳
HSK words with 娛1 word in this course
娱yúpleasure, enjoyment, amusementDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 吴 represents the sound. Simplified form of 娛.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 吴Phonetic componentclamorous
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 吴
HSK words with 娱1 word in this course
婦fùmarried woman; wifeDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 帚 represents the sound. The 帚 (broom) component may also be related to the meaning, since women were traditionally responsible for household chores.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 帚Phonetic componentbroom
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 帚
HSK words with 婦3 words in this course
婆póold woman; grandmotherDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 波 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 波Phonetic componentwaves, ripples, breakers; undulations
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 波 + 女
HSK words with 婆1 word in this course
娶qǔto marry, to take a wifeDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: To take 取 a wife 女; 取 also provides the pronunciation
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 取 + 女
HSK words with 娶1 word in this course
媒méigo-between, matchmaker; mediumDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 某 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 某Phonetic componentsome; such-and-such
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 某
HSK words with 媒2 words in this course
嫁jiàto marry, to give a daughter in marriageDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 家 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 家Phonetic componenthouse; family
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 家
HSK words with 嫁1 word in this course
嫩nènsoft, delicate; young, tenderDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 敕 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嫰.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 敕Phonetic componentan imperial order or decree
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 敕
HSK words with 嫩1 word in this course
奴núslave, servantDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Depicts a hand behind a woman slave's back forcing her to work.
- 女Pictographic componentwoman; female
- 又Pictographic component(hand); again
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 又
HSK words with 奴1 word in this course
妄wàngabsurd, foolish, ignorant; rash, reckless, wildDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 亡 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 亡Phonetic componentdie; flee
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 亡 + 女
HSK words with 妄1 word in this course
妆zhuāngadornment, make-up; to dress up, to use make-upDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 丬 represents the sound. Simplified form of 妝.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 丬Phonetic componentpiece of wood
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 丬 + 女
- Also indexed under
- 爿 half tree trunk
HSK words with 妆1 word in this course
妒dùjealous, enviousDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 户 represents the sound. Simplified form of 妬.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 户Phonetic componentdoor
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 户
HSK words with 妒1 word in this course
妥tuǒsecure, sound; satisfactory, appropriateDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A hand 爫 over a woman 女, representing control
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 爫 + 女
HSK words with 妥3 words in this course
妝zhuāngadornment, make-up; to dress up, to use make-upDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 爿 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 爿Phonetic componentpiece of wood
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 爿 + 女
HSK words with 妝1 word in this course
姆mǔgoverness, matron, nannyDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 母 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 母Phonetic componentmother
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 母
HSK words with 姆1 word in this course
娇jiāoseductive, lovable, tender; pampered; frailDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 乔 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嬌.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 乔Phonetic componenttall
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 乔
HSK words with 娇1 word in this course
娃wábaby; doll; pretty girlDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: A girl 女 made of beautiful jade 圭
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 圭
HSK words with 娃1 word in this course
姪zhínieceDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 至 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 至Phonetic componentarrive
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 至
HSK words with 姪1 word in this course
婪lánto covet; covetous, avariciousDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 林 represents the sound. Simplified form of 惏.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 林Phonetic componentwoods; forest
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 林 + 女
HSK words with 婪1 word in this course
婴yīngbaby, infant; to botherDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Semantic–phonetic formation: woman
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 贝 + 女
HSK words with 婴1 word in this course
嫉jíjealous, enviousDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: An envious 疾 woman 女; 疾 also provides the pronunciation
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 疾
HSK words with 嫉1 word in this course
嫂sǎosister-in-law, elder brother's wifeDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 叟 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 叟Phonetic componentsearch
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 叟
HSK words with 嫂1 word in this course
媳xídaughter-in-lawDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 息 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 息Phonetic componentbreath; news; interest
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 息
HSK words with 媳1 word in this course
嫌xiánto hate, to detest; to criticize; to suspectDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 兼 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 兼Phonetic componentdouble; twice
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 兼
HSK words with 嫌2 words in this course
嬌jiāoseductive, lovable, tender; pampered; frailDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 喬 represents the sound.
- 女Semantic componentwoman; female
- 喬Phonetic componenttall
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 女 + 喬
HSK words with 嬌1 word in this course
嬰yīngbaby, infant; to botherDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Semantic–phonetic formation: woman
- Category radical
- 女 woman
- Visual structure
- 賏 + 女
HSK words with 嬰1 word in this course
Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.