Definitions

niào (noun) urine
niào (verb) to urinate

Etymology

Depicts a person leaning over () and passing water ().

About

The character for urine, "尿", is a straightforward ideogrammatic compound whose construction has remained consistent in its basic logic. It is composed of the element "尸", which here represents a human body in a crouching or seated posture, placed above the element "水" meaning water, graphically depicting the act of urination. This core meaning as a noun for the liquid waste product has been stable throughout its history. In classical usage, the character also commonly functioned as a verb, meaning "to urinate", a grammatical role it retains in modern Chinese. The traditional form of this character is identical to the simplified one, though it is worth noting that in some classical contexts, the more complex character "溺" was also used to represent urine, with "尿" serving as a simpler, direct pictographic representation that eventually became standard for this specific concept.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

宝宝需要尿尿

Bǎobao xūyào niào niào.

The baby needs to pee.

尿布湿了需要更换。

Niàobù shīle xūyào gēnghuàn.

The wet diaper needs to be changed.

医生要检查他的尿液。

Yīshēng yào jiǎnchá tā de niàoyè.

The doctor wants to check his urine.

这种症状包括尿频和尿急。

Zhè zhǒng zhèngzhuàng bāokuò niàopín hé niàojí.

This symptom includes frequent and urgent urination.

实验室正在分析尿样。

Shíyànshì zhèngzài fēnxī niàoyàng.

The lab is analyzing the urine sample.

婴儿整晚用尿不湿。

Yīng'ér zhěng wǎn yòng niàobùshī.

The infant uses diapers all night.

尿病患者尿糖可能偏高。

Tángniàobìng huànzhě niàotáng kěnéng piān gāo.

Diabetic patients may have high urine sugar.

尿困难应及时就医。

Páiniào kùnnan yìng jíshí jiùyī.

Difficulty urinating should prompt timely medical attention.