About
嬷 is a simplified phono-semantic compound character, with its traditional form written as 嬤. It derives its meaning from the radical "女" (nǚ, "female") and its pronunciation from "麼" (me/mó). During character simplification, the original phonetic component was replaced by "麻" (má, "hemp"). Historically, it was a respectful term of address for elderly women, wet nurses, or senior maidservants in wealthy households and the imperial court. Today, it is primarily used in the term "嬷嬷" (mómo), referring to a wet nurse or an older female attendant, and is commonly seen in historical dramas and literary works depicting ancient family life.
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