Definitions

(noun) breast; milk

Etymology

Depicts a mother holding () a child () breastfeeding it.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 乳 is an ideogram depicting nursing, with components showing a maternal figure and an infant. The left side combines 爫 (zhǎo, a hand) above 子 (zǐ, child), forming an image of a hand cradling a baby. The right side features the stroke 乚 (yǐn), representing the breast to which the child is brought. Its core meaning is the verb "to nurse", which later extended to denote the breast itself, milk, and various milk-like liquids or emulsions in modern usage.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

早餐我喜欢喝牛奶。

Zǎocān wǒ xǐhuān hē niúnǎi.

I like to drink milk for breakfast.

奶酪是一种美味的制品。

Nǎilào shì yī zhǒng měiwèi de rǔzhìpǐn.

Cheese is a delicious dairy product.

婴儿需要母或配方奶。

Yīng'ér xūyào mǔrǔ huò pèifāng nǎi.

Infants need breast milk or formula.

酸奶富含活性酸菌。

Suānnǎi fùhán huóxìng rǔsuānjūn.

Yogurt is rich in active lactic acid bacteria.

这家工厂专门生产制品。

Zhè jiā gōngchǎng zhuānmén shēngchǎn rǔzhìpǐn.

This factory specializes in producing dairy products.

白色的月光洒在湖面上。

Rǔbáisè de yuèguāng sǎ zài húmiàn shàng.

The milky-white moonlight spilled onto the lake surface.

这种涂料具有优异的胶特性。

Zhè zhǒng túliào jùyǒu yōuyì de rǔjiāo tèxìng.

This type of paint has excellent latex properties.

动物用汁喂养幼崽。

Bǔrǔ dòngwù yòng rǔzhī wèiyǎng yòuzǎi.

Mammals feed their young with milk.