鸭子
yā zi · HSK 5
duck
🦆 鸭 (duck) + 子 (noun suffix); 鸭 = 甲 (jiǎ, phonetic) + 鸟 (bird)
鸭子 literally breaks down as duck + diminutive/noun-suffix 子. The 甲 component on the left carries the yā sound, while 鸟 on the right marks it as a bird. Slang sense (male prostitute) parallels 鸡 used for the female counterpart.
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.