Definitions

(noun) married woman; wife

Etymology

Simplified form of . Depicts a woman () using a broom (). Women were traditionally responsible for household chores in ancient times. also represents the sound.

About

The character "妇" originates from its traditional form "婦", which is composed of the radical "女" for woman and the component "帚" for broom, etymologically indicating a woman associated with domestic tasks and thus historically referring specifically to a married woman or wife. The simplified form "妇" replaces "帚" with the component "彐", a graphical simplification that functions primarily as a phonetic element without carrying the original semantic value. Over time, the meaning of the character expanded from denoting a married woman to being used in broader contexts, such as in the compound "妇女" which refers to women in general.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Western Zhou (1045-771 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

女们在工作。

Fùnǚmen zài gōngzuò.

The women are working.

他们是一对夫

Tāmen shì yī duì fūfù.

They are a married couple.

我的媳很孝顺。

Wǒ de xífu hěn xiàoshun.

My daughter-in-law is very filial.

需要多休息。

Yùnfù xūyào duō xiūxi.

Pregnant women need more rest.

她去看科医生。

Tā qù kàn fùkē yīshēng.

She went to see a gynecologist.

那位寡独自生活。

Nà wèi guǎfu dúzì shēnghuó.

That widow lives alone.

产科医院很忙碌。

Fùchǎnkē yīyuàn hěn mánglù.

The obstetrics and gynecology hospital is very busy.

战争对孺影响很大。

Zhànzhēng duì fùrú yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.

War has a great impact on women and children.