舅

jiù

男 + 臼

Definitions

jiù (noun) maternal uncle

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 男 represents the meaning and 臼 represents the sound.

Semantic: 男 Phonetic: 臼

About

The character 舅 is a kinship term for a maternal uncle, specifically the brother of one's mother. It is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic component 男 (male) at the bottom, indicating gender. The upper component 臼, originally depicting a mortar, functions here as the phonetic element. This precise terminology reflects the detailed distinctions within the traditional Chinese kinship system.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的舅舅很好。

Wǒ de jiùjiu hěn hǎo.

My uncle is very good.

舅舅给我礼物。

Jiùjiu gěi wǒ lǐwù.

Uncle gives me a gift.

我舅舅是位老师。

Wǒ jiùjiu shì wèi lǎoshī.

My uncle is a teacher.

舅妈和舅舅都来了。

Jiùmā hé jiùjiu dōu lái le.

Aunt and uncle both came.

昨天舅舅从北京回来。

Zuótiān jiùjiu cóng Běijīng huílái.

Yesterday uncle returned from Beijing.

因为舅舅帮忙，我完成了作业。

Yīnwèi jiùjiu bāngmáng, wǒ wánchéng le zuòyè.

Because uncle helped, I finished my homework.

舅舅虽然很忙，但是经常来看我们。

Jiùjiu suīrán hěn máng, dànshì jīngcháng lái kàn wǒmen.

Although uncle is very busy, he often comes to see us.

舅舅在跨国公司担任高级经理。

Jiùjiu zài kuàguó gōngsī dānrèn gāojí jīnglǐ.

Uncle works as a senior manager in a multinational company.

Related Characters

Component: 男

Component: 臼

舅