女子
nǔzǐ · HSK 3
woman
👩 女 (woman) + 子 (child/person) = lady; 女子 literally 'woman-person'
Compound of 女 (nǚ, woman) and 子 (zǐ, child or person-suffix). Together they form a slightly formal word for 'lady' or 'young woman', common in set phrases and titles.
女 — pictograph of a kneeling woman
女 is a pictograph originating in oracle bone script, depicting a person kneeling with arms crossed in front, a posture associated with women in ancient China. Over time the form was simplified and squared off into the modern character. Its core meaning of 'woman' or 'female' has remained stable for over three thousand years.
子 — pictograph of a baby/child with arms out
子 began as a pictograph of a swaddled infant with a large head and outstretched arms, originally meaning 'baby' or 'child.' From there it broadened to 'son,' 'offspring,' and a respectful suffix for masters like 孔子 (Confucius). It also became one of the twelve earthly branches.