About
The character "婴" derives from its traditional form "嬰", which structurally integrates two "貝" components representing shells positioned above the "女" radical for woman, originally conveying the idea of a shell necklace worn as personal adornment. Over time, its primary meaning transitioned from denoting this physical ornament to referring to an infant or very young child, a semantic shift that may have been facilitated by the conceptual parallel between the closeness of a necklace and the nurturing proximity inherent in caring for a baby. The simplified variant "婴" preserves the "女" element while replacing the dual shells with the simplified form "贝", thus maintaining the core graphical composition despite a reduction in strokes. This journey from a term for an object to one for a person highlights how the character's etymology and structure have been adapted to reflect changing linguistic and social priorities across different periods.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个婴儿很可爱。
妈妈抱着婴儿。
婴儿在摇篮里睡觉。
那个女婴笑得开心。
婴幼儿产品非常安全。
护士细心地照顾生病的婴儿。
为了婴儿的健康，父母学习育儿知识。
现代科技帮助监测婴儿的睡眠质量和生理指标。