女
おんな · onna · JLPT N5 · noun
woman
👩 onna: she is ON NAtural form — 女 began as a kneeling woman pictograph
Etymology: 女 is an ancient pictograph of a kneeling figure with crossed arms. Sound hook: onna starts like the English word on, then na. It appears as a component in 好 (like), 妹 (younger sister) and 姉 (older sister).
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.