Meanings of 女
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 女
Podcast: 女
Podcast: 女
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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
Drill the tone of 女 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 女
Pictograph of a woman. Depicts a stick-figure with breasts sitting or squatting down.
A woman turned to the side
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 女
Pictograph of a woman. Depicts a stick-figure with breasts sitting or squatting down.
- 1The giveawayA woman turned to the side
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 女? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation 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
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
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.
Complete the Sentence
他四十，____儿十六。
He is forty; his daughter is sixteen.
Example Sentences for 女 (28)
Reorder the Sentence
She is a friendly female student.
Word Family of 女
Compound Meaning
What does 好 mean?
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.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 女?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.