Definitions
(noun)
egg; ovum
Etymology
Pictograph of the scrotum of a male's penis. The meaning later shifted to "egg", "ovum", and "spawn".
About
The character "卵" originated from an early pictographic design representing two eggs placed together, which over time was stylized into its modern form through incremental adjustments in writing conventions. Its structure, composed of symmetrical elements that imply duplication and roundness, consistently conveys the idea of an egg or a similar rounded object. While the primary meaning has always centered on animal eggs, its application broadened to include metaphorical uses such as in "卵石" for pebbles or in botanical contexts for seed-like structures, yet without departing from its fundamental association with ovular shapes and reproductive concepts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
河边有很多卵石。
青蛙在池塘产卵。
这些卵很快会孵化。
卵巢是女性的重要器官。
大多数鸟类都是卵生动物。
卵子和精子结合形成受精卵。
科学家正在研究如何保护濒危动物的卵。
在低温环境下，某些昆虫的卵可以进入休眠状态。