Definitions

guī (noun) women's chamber; boudoir

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

闺, traditional form 閨, is a phono-semantic compound. The radical 門/门 (mén, door) provides the semantic category of an entrance or enclosure, while the component 圭 (guī, jade tablet) offers the pronunciation. The structure visually suggests a private, enclosed space within a dwelling. Historically, the character referred specifically to the small inner door leading to the women's quarters in a traditional home. Over time, its meaning expanded from this architectural feature to represent the young, unmarried women themselves, and by extension, concepts associated with daughters, feminine companionship, and domestic life.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她是我的蜜。

Tā shì wǒ de guīmì.

She is my best friend (female).

我的女今年五岁了。

Wǒ de guīnǚ jīnnián wǔ suì le.

My daughter is five years old this year.

姐姐的房非常整洁。

Jiějie de guīfáng fēicháng zhěngjié.

My older sister's boudoir is very tidy.

少女的中密友来看她了。

Shàonǚ de guī zhōng mìyǒu lái kàn tā le.

The young lady's close female friend came to visit her.

这些诗词描写了深女子的忧愁。

Zhèxiē shīcí miáoxiěle shēnguī nǚzǐ de yōuchóu.

These poems describe the sorrow of women in the inner chambers.

古代女子大多待字中。

Gǔdài nǚzǐ dàduō dàizì guī zhōng.

In ancient times, most unmarried women stayed in the inner chambers.

小说细腻刻画了她的阁生活。

Xiǎoshuō xìnì kèhuàle tā de guīgé shēnghuó.

The novel meticulously depicts her life in the women's quarters.

这部作品突破了传统怨诗的题材。

Zhè bù zuòpǐn tūpòle chuántǒng guīyuàn shī de tícái.

This work breaks through the traditional themes of boudoir resentment poetry.