娼

chāng
女 + 昌

Definitions

chāng prostitute

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 昌 represents the sound.

Semantic: 女 Phonetic: 昌

About

The character 娼 (chāng) is a phono-semantic compound. Its left-side semantic radical 女 (nǚ) indicates the meaning relates to women or femininity, while the right-side phonetic component 昌 (chāng) provides the pronunciation. Originally, the term referred to female performers or musicians in ancient courts. Over time, its meaning narrowed significantly to exclusively denote a female sex worker or prostitute. In modern usage, it carries a derogatory and illicit connotation, appearing primarily in legal or historical discussions of commercial sex, as seen in the formal compound 娼妓 (chāngjì).

Example Sentences Hide

这个人不是娼妓。

Zhège rén bù shì chāngjì.

This person is not a prostitute.

娼妓是非法的。

Chāngjì shì fēifǎ de.

Prostitution is illegal.

他反对卖娼行为。

Tā fǎnduì mài chāng xíngwéi.

He opposes prostitution.

这座城市有娼寮。

Zhè zuò chéngshì yǒu chāngliáo.

This city has brothels.

娼妓问题需要解决。

Chāngjì wèntí xūyào jiějué.

The prostitution problem needs to be solved.

政府严厉打击娼妓活动。

Zhèngfǔ yánlì dǎjí chāngjì huódòng.

The government cracks down hard on prostitution activities.

历史书中记载了古代娼妓制度。

Lìshǐ shū zhōng jìzǎile gǔdài chāngjì zhìdù.

History books record the ancient prostitution system.

社会工作者帮助娼妓重建生活。

Shèhuì gōngzuò zhě bāngzhù chāngjì chóngjiàn shēnghuó.

Social workers help prostitutes rebuild their lives.

Related Characters

Component: 女

要 如 好 她 女 安 始 委 威 妈 姐 娘 妇 婚

Component: 昌

唱 倡 猖 菖 阊 鲳 閶 晿 誯 錩 锠 鯧

Example Words

嫖娼 娼妓 娼妇 逼良为娼 娼家 暗娼