These are the characters in this series. To see them put together in a story, click on the image above to access the pdf. Then review and quiz yourself at the bottom.
婚
hūn
marriage
女 + 昏hūn
woman + dusk
woman joins another clan at dusk
妙
miào
wonderful
女 + 少shǎo
woman + few
praise a woman as wonderful, meaning those like her are few and far between OR Women are wonderful. Few would dispute that.
嫌
xián
dislike
女 + 兼jiān
woman + double
She is disliked as a woman who leads a double life, cheating on her husband. OR dislike women being treated with a double standard compared to men
媒
méi
matchmaker
女 + 某mǒu
woman + picnic basket
matchmaker sets up a blind date, a picnic OR matchmaking service offers free picnic basket on first date
委
wěi
committee
禾 + 女
grain + woman
a committee about whole grains made up of women
娃
wá
newborn
女 + 圭
woman + bricks
carrying a newborn can feel to a woman like carrying around bricks
奴
nú
slave [n.]
女nǚ + 又
woman + right hand
woman uses her right hand to slave away
woman chained by her right hand on her way to slavery
姆
mǔ
nanny
女 + 母mǔ
woman + mother
a nanny is a woman who helps the mother
妖
yāo
bewitching
女 + 夭yāo
woman + die young
A young woman was bewitched by a life in the spotlight and died young. OR If you are bewitched by the myth that a woman can do it all and all at once, you will die young.
威
wēi
might [n.]
一 + 女 + 戊
one + woman + cannon
The might of a cannon blows one woman away.
It takes one woman to show her might by standing up to the cannon
熨
yùn
iron [v.]
尉 + 火
martyr + fire
martyr mother fires the iron for years to keep Dad looking good OR so many options for a career woman to avoid being the martyr at home ironing: wrinkle-free fabrics, dry cleaners, housekeepers
姻
yīn
in-law
女 + 因yīn
woman + cause
Because of marriage a woman becomes part of in-law relationships. OR Women are the cause of marriage. They want the stability of one man to help care for them and their children during child-rearing.
宴
yàn
banquet
宀 + 日 + 女
house + day + woman
for a banquet, it takes a woman all day to prepare the house
娶
qǔ
take a wife
取qǔ + 女
take + woman
Hopefully when a man takes a woman to wife, he also takes her somewhere nice.
皆
jiē
all
比 + 白
compare + white
housewives comparing their whites washed with All
女
nǚ
female, *woman
as a component: “女字旁”
姓
xìng
surname
女 + 生shēng
woman + life/seed
a Chinese woman keeps her surname, but her seed takes her husband's
妄
wàng
absurd [adj.]
亡wáng + 女
deceased + woman
a lot of ideas about women are absurd and should "decease"
her fear is looking absurd in her coffin
妨
fáng
hinder
女 + 方fāng
woman + compass
some women (me) are hindered in their compass skills OR thoughts of a woman can hinder a man’s sense of direction
妆
zhuāng
put on makeup
丬qiáng + 女
turtle + woman
Picture a womanputting on makeup from a small turtle shell.
Some women take forever to put on makeup, as slow as a turtle.
接
jiē
welcome [v.]
扌 + 立 + 女
hand + stand up + woman
to welcome: reach out hand and stand up when a woman comes in the room
a womanstanding at the school gate welcoming her kids with a hug
耍
shuǎ
mess around
而 + 女
beard + woman
She doesn’t mess around with beards; she wants a man with a clean-shaven face. OR Santa baby, hurry down the chimney tonight.
奸
jiān
adultery
女 + 干gān
woman + clothesline
A woman commits adultery after flirting with the neighbor over the fence every time she is out hanging up her laundry.
干 can be a vulgar word for sex.
妇
fù
married woman
女 + 彐
woman + broom
married woman with a broom
婴
yīng
baby
贝 + 贝 + 女
2 shells + woman
Two 宝贝 (bǎobèi babies) is all a woman’s body can handle. OR So many women I know are having babies with IVF. It’s expensive.
妒
dù
jealous of
女 + 户hù
woman + door
I’m so jealous of her front door. It’s the house’s 1920’s original.
媚
mèi
flatter
女 + 眉méi
woman + eyebrows
He says the first time we met, I kept making eyebrows at him. I say, “Don’t flatter yourself.” OR You noticed my eyebrows? Wow, I’m flattered.
妥
tuǒ
appropriate
爫 + 女
claw + woman
A claw clip is versatile enough for appropriate hairstyles for various occasions.
妻
qī
wife
十 + 肀 + 女
needle + rake + woman
traditional qualifications for a good housewife: sewing and gardening
a "ten-rakewife" that brings so many skills and tools into the marriage
婉
wǎn
tactful
女 + 宛wǎn
woman + Cabela's
woman tactfully avoids spending all day at Cabela's
姿
zī
looks [n.]
次cì + 女
next + woman
“next, next, next” man passing over women who don’t meet his idea of good looks OR We’re moving on to the next era of female looks, where there is a celebration of many different looks.
娇
jiāo
attractive
女 + 乔qiáo
woman + pretend
There is no need for a woman to pretend; she’s already attractive as she is.
attractivewomanpretending to not be as smart as she is
扫
sǎo
sweep
扌 + 彐
hand + broom
use hand to sweep with a broom
好
hǎo
good
女 + 子
woman + child
woman with her child is good
要
yào
want [v.]
西 + 女
Wild West + woman
poster in the Wild West “Wanted: Women”
Westernwomenwant it all: family, career, etc.
如
rú
be like
女nǚ + 口
woman + mouth
women talking about what it would be like if…
ancient ritual where people walk out of a cave to symbolically represent rebirth, like coming out of a woman’s birth canal
奶
nǎi
milk [n.]
女 + 乃nǎi
woman + fist
woman squeezes with fist and gets milk
易
yì
easy
日 + 勿
sun/day + knot
sewing by the window, easier to tie knots with the sunlight
It is easy to waste your day getting tied in knots over things out of your control.
旨
zhǐ
purpose
匕 + 日
spoon/person sitting + day
feeding the baby gave purpose to my days OR even if you sit at a desk every day, find your purpose
始
shǐ
commence
女 + 台
woman + stage
woman on the stagecommencing the women's march
汗
hàn
sweat [n.]
氵 + 干gān
water + dry/clothesline
dry the wet sweat from your workout clothes on the clothesline OR sweat as you hang the clothes out to dry
担
dān
assume
扌 + 旦dàn
hand + daybreak
Every morning stretch hands up at daybreak and assume responsibilities.
Use your hand to turn off the alarm at daybreak and assume your responsibilities.
安
ān
peaceful
宀 + 女
house + woman
a woman at peace when she is the only one in the house
实
shí
reality
宀 + 头
house + head/bust
reality is they keep his real head in the house as a memorial OR What is the reality about who is head of the house?