Meanings of 女
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Podcast: 女
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AI Study Notes for 女
女子 (nǚ zǐ) vs 妇女 (fù nǚ): Use 女子 for a more formal or literary reference to 'female' or 'girl,' while 妇女 is more commonly used for 'women' in a broader social context.
Be aware that '女' is often used in compound words like '女孩' (nǚhái, girl) and '女性' (nǚxìng, female). Common mistakes include confusing '女' with '男' (nán, male). In formal contexts, it is better to use '女性' when referring to women in a respectful manner.
As an HSK Level 2 word, '女' connects with other basic vocabulary related to family and gender. Students should focus on its usage in compound words and phrases, as well as its various contexts in conversations about family and gender roles.
Learners often confuse '女' with '男' (nán) and mistakenly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '女儿' (nǚér, daughter) when they mean '儿子' (érzi, son) is a common error. It's essential to remember that '女' specifically denotes female.
Pronunciation of 女
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Jason Explains 女 to You
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Etymology of 女
Pictograph of a woman. Depicts a stick-figure with breasts sitting or squatting down.
A woman turned to the side
Origin
What kind of character is 女?
How to say female in Chinese
“female” in Chinese is女
The character '女' (nǚ) primarily means 'woman' or 'female.' It is often used in contexts related to gender and can refer to women, girls, or daughters. In certain historical texts, it also serves as an archaic variant of the character '汝' (rǔ), which means 'you.'
When to use 女
Be aware that '女' is often used in compound words like '女孩' (nǚhái, girl) and '女性' (nǚxìng, female). Common mistakes include confusing '女' with '男' (nán, male). In formal contexts, it is better to use '女性' when referring to women in a respectful manner.
女 or something close to it
女子 (nǚ zǐ) vs 妇女 (fù nǚ): Use 女子 for a more formal or literary reference to 'female' or 'girl,' while 妇女 is more commonly used for 'women' in a broader social context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '女' with '男' (nán) and mistakenly use them interchangeably. For example, saying '女儿' (nǚér, daughter) when they mean '儿子' (érzi, son) is a common error. It's essential to remember that '女' specifically denotes female.
Write 女
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Practice writing 女 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 女
女 carries 6 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他四十，____儿十六。
He is forty; his daughter is sixteen.
Example Sentences for 女 (28)
Rebuild it
Rebuild it: “She is a friendly female student.”
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Word Family of 女
Characters with 女
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Frequently Asked Questions about 女
'女' is a more general character meaning 'woman' or 'female,' while '女人' (nǚrén) specifically means 'woman' as a noun.
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