About
The character 乳, which has retained the same form in both traditional and simplified systems, is structured as a pictographic ideogram originally depicting a kneeling or crouching figure holding an infant to the breast, a composition that directly conveys its core meaning of nursing or breastfeeding. Etymologically, it derives from this concrete act and by extension came to denote the milk itself, as both the substance and the action are intrinsically linked. Over centuries, its semantic field broadened from this specific biological function to encompass related concepts, giving rise to words for mammary glands, dairy products, and anything resembling milk in consistency or color. Furthermore, it developed a metaphorical sense applied to very young or nascent things, such as in the term for "baby teeth", thereby extending its association from the literal source of nourishment to a symbol of early developmental stages.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
早餐我喜欢喝牛奶。
奶酪是一种美味的乳制品。
婴儿需要母乳或配方奶。
酸奶富含活性乳酸菌。
这家工厂专门生产乳制品。
乳白色的月光洒在湖面上。
这种涂料具有优异的乳胶特性。
哺乳动物用乳汁喂养幼崽。