Definitions

nǎi (noun) milk
nǎi (noun,verb) breast; to breastfeed

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 奶 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the semantic radical 女 (woman) with the phonetic component 乃 (nǎi), which provides its sound. Its original meaning referred specifically to a woman’s breasts or the milk they produce, a direct connection to the female radical. Over time, the sense broadened to include the act of breastfeeding. Later, it developed the extended meaning of grandmother or an elderly woman, a common modern usage that now exists alongside its primary association with milk and dairy.

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢喝牛

Wǒ xǐhuān hē niúnǎi.

I like to drink milk.

给我讲故事。

Nǎinai gěi wǒ jiǎng gùshi.

Grandma tells me stories.

宝宝需要喝粉。

Bǎobao xūyào hē nǎifěn.

The baby needs to drink milk powder.

对健康有益。

Suānnǎi duì jiànkāng yǒuyì.

Yogurt is beneficial for health.

早餐有牛和面包。

Zǎocān yǒu niúnǎi hé miànbāo.

Breakfast has milk and bread.

她每天喝一杯牛

Tā měitiān hē yī bēi niúnǎi.

She drinks a glass of milk every day.

新鲜的牛味道很好。

Xīnxiān de niúnǎi wèidao hěn hǎo.

Fresh milk tastes very good.

妈妈用粉泡给弟弟喝。

Māma yòng nǎifěn pào nǎi gěi dìdi hē.

Mom uses milk powder to make milk for younger brother to drink.