女

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 女 (nǚ) for "woman" is a pictograph that depicts a woman kneeling with her hands crossed in front of her. The character is first attested in oracle bone script from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE). The oracle bone script form of the character shows a woman with a large head and a long body, and her hands are crossed in front of her chest. The character is thought to have evolved from an earlier pictograph that depicted a woman with a child in her arms.The character 女 is used in a variety of words related to women, such as 女子 (nǚzǐ) for "girl", 妇女 (fùnǚ) for "woman", and 女性 (nǚxìng) for "female". The character is also used in the names of many Chinese goddesses, such as Nüwa, the goddess of creation, and Chang'e, the goddess of the moon.The character 女 is a powerful symbol of women in Chinese culture. It is a reminder of the important role that women have played in Chinese society throughout history. The character is also a source of inspiration for women today, as it reminds them of their strength and resilience.