雌

cí

此 + 隹

Definitions

cí female; Taiwan pr. [cī]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 隹 represents the meaning and 此 represents the sound.

Semantic: 隹 Phonetic: 此

About

The character 雌 (cí) is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 隹 (zhuī, a short-tailed bird) and the phonetic component 此 (cǐ). It originally referred to female birds, reflecting the bird radical. Over time, the character's use broadened to denote the female sex of many animals and occasionally female plant parts, serving as the counterpart to 雄 (xióng, male).

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这只鸟是雌的。

Zhè zhī niǎo shì cí de.

This bird is female.

雌鹿在吃草。

Cí lù zài chī cǎo.

The doe is eating grass.

那只雌猫生了小猫。

Nà zhī cí māo shēng le xiǎo māo.

That female cat gave birth to kittens.

花园里有许多雌花。

Huāyuán lǐ yǒu xǔduō cí huā.

There are many female flowers in the garden.

雌性动物通常照顾幼崽。

Cíxìng dòngwù tōngcháng zhàogù yòuzǎi.

Female animals usually take care of their young.

雌狮捕猎，而雄狮守护领地。

Cí shī bǔliè, ér xióng shī shǒuhù lǐngdì.

The lioness hunts, while the male lion guards the territory.

区分雌雄个体需要观察外部特征。

Qūfēn cíxióng gètǐ xūyào guānchá wàibù tèzhēng.

Distinguishing between female and male individuals requires observing external characteristics.

在鸟类中，雌性往往负责孵卵和育雏。

Zài niǎolèi zhōng, cíxìng wǎngwǎng fùzé fū luǎn hé yù chú.

Among birds, females are often responsible for incubating eggs and raising chicks.

Related Characters

Component: 此

Component: 隹

雌