Translingual [ edit ]
Han character [ edit ]
妹 (Kangxi radical 38, 女 +5, 8 strokes, cangjie input 女十木 (VJD ), four-corner 45490 , composition ⿰女 未 )
Stroke order
References [ edit ]
KangXi: page 257 , character 28
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 6138
Dae Jaweon: page 522, character 23
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1034, character 6
Unihan data for U+59B9
Chinese [ edit ]
Glyph origin [ edit ]
Old Chinese
寐
*mids
魅
*mrɯds
鬽
*mrɯds
昧
*mɯːds
妹
*mɯːds
眛
*maːds, *mɯːds
沬
*maːds, *hmɯːds, *mɯds
未
*mɯds
味
*mɯds
鮇
*mɯds
菋
*mɯds
Phono-semantic compound (形聲 , OC *mɯːds ): semantic 女 ( “ female, woman ” ) + phonetic 未 ( OC *mɯds) .
Etymology [ edit ]
Probably Sino-Tibetan . Proposed etymologies:
STEDT relates it to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *mi ( “ girl; female; feminine suffix ” ) , whence Apatani nyimii ( “ girl; woman; female ” ) , Proto-Loloish *C-mi² ( “ woman ” ) , Proto-Karen *hmɨᴮ ( “ female; woman ” ) .
Schuessler (2007) compares it to Burmese မ ( ma. , “ sister ” ) (whence အစ်မ ( acma. , “ elder sister ” ) , ညီမ ( nyima. , “ younger sister ” ) ), Miju ku-mai- ( “ woman ” ) , Tibetan བུད་མེད ( bud med , “ woman ” ) , and also Mizo hmei ( “ concubine ” ) (> Mizo hmei-chhia ( “ woman; wife ” ) ), which STEDT relates to Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-maj ( “ widow, widower ” ) instead.
Pronunciation [ edit ]
Mandarin
Cantonese
(Standard Cantonese , Guangzhou ) +
Jyutping : mui6 , mui6-1 , mui6-2
Yale : muih, mū i, múi
Cantonese Pinyin : mui6 , mui6-1 , mui6-2
Guangdong Romanization : mui6 , mui6-1 , mui6-2
Sinological IPA (key ) : /muːi̯²²/, /muːi̯²²⁻⁵⁵ /, /muːi̯²²⁻³⁵/
(Taishanese , Taicheng )
Gan
Hakka
Jin
Min Bei
Min Dong
Min Nan
(Hokkien : Xiamen , Taipei , Magong , Hsinchu , Singapore )
(Hokkien : Quanzhou , Sanxia , Kinmen , Hsinchu , Singapore )
(Hokkien : Zhangzhou )
(Hokkien : Kaohsiung , Tainan , Yilan , Taichung )
(Hokkien : Lukang )
(Hokkien : Xiamen )
(Hokkien : Quanzhou )
(Hokkien : Zhangzhou )
Note :
Xiamen:
bē - vernacular;
bōe - literary.
Quanzhou:
bēr - vernacular;
mūi - literary.
Zhangzhou:
māi - vernacular;
moāi - literary.
(Teochew )
Note :
muê6 - literary;
muê7 - vernacular.
Wu
Xiang
Note :
mei5 - vernacular;
mei4 - literary.
Baxter –Sagart system 1.1 (2014 )
Character
妹
Reading #
1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)
mèi
Middle Chinese
‹ mwojH ›
Old Chinese
/*C.mˁə[t]-s/
English
younger sister
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:
* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;
* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character
妹
Reading #
1/1
No.
12914
Phonetic component
未
Rime group
隊
Rime subdivision
1
Corresponding MC rime
妹
Old Chinese
/*mɯːds/
Definitions [ edit ]
妹
younger sister
girl ; young female
( Hakka ) daughter
a surname
Synonyms [ edit ]
Dialectal synonyms of
妹妹 (“younger sister”)
[map]
Variety
Location
Words
Classical Chinese
妹 , 女弟
Formal (Written Standard Chinese )
妹妹
Mandarin
Beijing
妹妹
Taiwan
妹妹
Ulanhot
老妹兒
Tongliao
老妹兒
Chifeng
妹妹
Bayanhot
妹妹
Hulunbuir (Hailar)
老妹兒
Harbin
妹妹 , 妹子
Shenyang
妹妹
Yantai (Muping)
妹
Jinan
妹妹
Luoyang
妹
Wanrong
妹子
Zhengzhou
妹妹
Xi'an
妹子 , 妹妹
Yinchuan
妹妹
Lanzhou
妹妹
Xining
妹子
Ürümqi
妹妹
Wuhan
妹妹
Huanggang
妹兒
Chengdu
妹兒 , 妹妹 , 妹
Guiyang
妹
Kunming
妹子 , 妹妹
Liuzhou
妹子 , 妹 , 老妹
Xuzhou
妹妹
Yangzhou
妹妹
Nanjing
妹妹 , 妹子
Hefei
妹妹
Nantong
妹子 , 妹妹
Malaysia
妹妹
Singapore
妹妹
Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)
妹妹
Cantonese
Guangzhou
妹妹 , 細妹 , 阿妹 , 妹
Hong Kong
妹妹 , 細妹 , 阿妹 , 妹
Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)
阿妹
Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)
妹
Hong Kong (Ting Kok)
阿妹
Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)
阿妹
Macau
妹
Guangzhou (Panyu)
細妹 , 阿妹
Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)
妹
Guangzhou (Conghua)
妹
Guangzhou (Zengcheng)
阿妹
Foshan
細妹 , 妹
Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)
阿妹
Foshan (Shunde)
妹
Foshan (Sanshui)
妹
Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)
妹子
Zhongshan (Shiqi)
妹
Zhuhai (Qianshan)
妹
Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)
阿妹
Zhuhai (Doumen)
阿妹
Jiangmen (Baisha)
阿妹
Jiangmen (Xinhui)
阿妹
Taishan
阿妹
Kaiping (Chikan)
阿妹
Enping (Niujiang)
阿妹
Heshan (Yayao)
妹
Dongguan
妹
Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)
妹
Shaoguan
阿妹
Yunfu
阿妹
Yangjiang
小妹
Xinyi
老妹
Lianjiang
老妹 , 阿妹
Danzhou
老姑
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)
阿妹
Singapore (Guangfu)
細妹 , 阿妹 , 妹
Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)
細妹
Gan
Nanchang
妹子
Lichuan
妹
Pingxiang
老妹 , 妹老子
Hakka
Meixian
老妹 , 老妹仔
Xingning
老妹
Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)
老妹
Huiyang
老妹
Huidong (Daling)
老妹
Dongguan (Qingxi)
老妹
Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)
老妹
Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)
老妹
Wuhua (Shuizhai)
老妹
Wuhua (Huacheng)
老妹
Wuhua (Changbu)
老妹
Wuhua (Mianyang)
老妹
Wuhua (Meilin)
老妹
Heyuan (Bendihua)
老妹
Wengyuan
老妹
Shaoguan (Qujiang)
老妹
Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)
老妹
Liannan
老妹
Conghua (Lütian)
老妹
Jiexi
老妹
Luhe
老妹
Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)
阿妹
Changting
老妹
Wuping
老妹
Wuping (Yanqian)
老妹子
Wuping (Pingyu)
老妹
Liancheng
老妹
Ninghua
老妹
Yudu
妹子
Ningdu
妹
Ruijin
老妹
Shicheng
老妹 , 妹
Shangyou (Shexi)
老妹
Tonggu (Sandu)
老妹
Ganzhou (Panlong)
老妹
Dayu
妹佬
Miaoli (N. Sixian)
老妹
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)
老妹
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)
老妹
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)
老妹
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)
老妹
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)
阿妹
Hong Kong
老妹
Yangxi (Tangkou)
老妹
Yangchun (Sanjia)
老妹
Xinyi (Sihe)
老妹
Xinyi (Qianpai)
老妹
Gaozhou (Xindong)
老妹
Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai)
老妹
Huazhou (Xin'an)
老妹
Lianjiang (Shijiao)
老妹
Lianjiang (Qingping)
老妹
Mengshan (Xihe)
老妹
Luchuan
老妹
Sabah (Bao'an)
老妹
Sabah (Longchuan)
老妹
Senai (Huiyang)
老妹
Sungai Tapang, Batu Kawa (Hepo)
老妹
Singkawang
阿妹 , 老妹
Huizhou
Jixi
妹
Shexian
妹妹 , 女妹
Tunxi
令妹兒
Xiuning
令妹 , 令妹兒
Yixian
奶妹兒
Qimen
妹吶
Wuyuan
女妹仂 , 女妹 , 妹
Fuliang
小妹 , 妹哩
Dexing
妹子
Jin
Taiyuan
妹妹
Pingyao
妹妹 , 妹子
Xinzhou
姊妹
Taibus (Baochang)
妹妹
Linhe
妹妹
Jining
妹妹
Hohhot
妹妹
Baotou
妹妹
Dongsheng
妹妹
Haibowan
妹妹
Min Bei
Jian'ou
妹仔
Jian'ou (Dikou)
妹仔
Songxi
妹仔
Zhenghe
妹
Zhenghe (Zhenqian)
妹
Jianyang
妹仔
Wuyishan
妹仔
Pucheng (Shibei)
妹仔
Min Dong
Fuzhou
依妹 , 妹
Changle
依妹
Fuqing
阿妹
Yongtai
依妹
Gutian
妹
Fu'an
妹
Ningde
妹
Shouning
姊妹
Zhouning
阿妹
Fuding
阿妹
Matsu
依妹
Min Nan
Xiamen
小妹 , 阿妹 face-to-face
Quanzhou
小妹 , 阿妹 face-to-face
Zhangzhou
小妹 , 阿妹 face-to-face
Zhao'an
細妹子
Taipei
小妹
New Taipei (Sanxia)
小妹
Kaohsiung
小妹
Tainan
小妹
Kinmen
小妹
Penghu (Magong)
小妹
Penang (Hokkien)
小妹
Singapore (Hokkien)
小妹 , 阿妹 face-to-face
Manila (Hokkien)
小妹
Chaozhou
阿妹
Shantou
妹
Jieyang
阿妹
Haifeng
妹 , 妹妹 , 阿妹
Bangkok (Teochew)
阿妹
Johor Bahru (Teochew)
阿妹
Singapore (Teochew)
阿妹
Leizhou
尼妹 , 妹
Wenchang
姑𡠤 of a male , 姨𡠤 of a female
Haikou
姑𡠤 of a male , 姨𡠤 of a female
Puxian Min
Putian
阿妹
Xianyou
阿妹 , 小妹
Zhongshan Min
Shaxi (Longdu)
妹
Southern Pinghua
Nanning (Tingzi)
妹
Shehua
Fu'an
妹
Fuding
阿妹
Luoyuan
妹
Sanming
妹
Shunchang
阿妹
Hua'an
妹
Guixi (Zhangping)
妹
Cangnan
妹
Jingning
妹
Lishui
妹
Longyou
妹
Chaozhou
妹
Fengshun
妹
Wu
Shanghai
阿妹 , 妹妹 , 姊妹
Shanghai (Chongming)
姊妹
Suzhou
妹子 , 妹妹
Wuxi
妹子 , 妹妹
Danyang
妹子
Hangzhou
阿妹 , 妹妹
Ningbo
阿妹 , 妹妹
Wenzhou
阿妹
Jinhua
妹 , 妹妹
Xiang
Changsha
老妹 , 妹妹
Xiangtan
老妹
Loudi
妹妹
Shuangfeng
妹妹
Dialectal synonyms of
女孩子 (“girl”)
[map]
Variety
Location
Words
Formal (Written Standard Chinese )
女孩 , 女孩子 , 女童
Mandarin
Beijing
女孩兒 , 小女孩兒 , 小姑娘 , 小閨女 , 小丫頭 , 妞兒 , 小妞兒
Taiwan
女孩 , 女孩子
Weifang (Weicheng)
閨女兒 , 小妮兒
Weifang (Fangzi)
小閨女
Weifang (Hanting)
小閨女
Changyi
閨女 , 小嫚兒
Gaomi
小嫚兒
Zhucheng
小閨女子兒
Anqiu
閨女
Changle
閨女 , 妮兒
Linqu
閨女
Qingzhou
小閨女 , 小閨妮兒
Shouguang
妮子
Wulian
識字班
Jinan
小閨女兒 , 小妮兒
Kaifeng
女孩兒
Xi'an
女子娃 , 女子 , 女娃子
Wuhan
女伢 , 姑娘伢
Chengdu
女娃子 , 女娃兒 , 女娃娃
Guilin
女把爺
Guanyang
妹崽家
Yangzhou
女霞子
Xinghua
姑娘 , 丫頭 , 外家裡
Hefei
丫頭
Yanping
女子崽
Singapore
女孩子
Dagudi (Maliba)
小姑娘
Reshuitang (Longling)
小姑娘
Mae Salong (Lancang)
小姑娘
Mae Sai (Tengchong)
小姑娘
Cantonese
Guangzhou
女仔 , 細路女 child
Hong Kong
女仔 , 細路女 child
Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)
女仔
Macau
女仔
Guangzhou (Panyu)
女仔
Guangzhou (Zengcheng)
女仔
Foshan
女仔
Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)
女仔
Foshan (Shunde)
女仔
Foshan (Sanshui)
女仔
Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)
女仔
Zhongshan (Shiqi)
女仔
Zhuhai (Qianshan)
女仔
Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)
女仔
Zhuhai (Doumen)
女仔
Jiangmen (Baisha)
女仔
Jiangmen (Xinhui)
女仔
Taishan
女仔 , 細路女 child , 細民女 child
Kaiping (Chikan)
女仔 , 細佬女 child , 細民女 child
Enping (Niujiang)
女仔
Heshan (Yayao)
女仔
Dongguan
女仔
Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)
婦娘妹
Qingyuan
女仔
Fogang
女仔
Yingde (Hanguang)
女仔
Yangshan
妹仔
Lianshan (Butian)
妹仔兒
Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)
女仔
Shaoguan
女仔
Shaoguan (Qujiang)
女仔 , 妹仔
Renhua
女仔
Lechang
女仔
Yangjiang
妹 , 妹仔
Nanning
女仔 , 妹仔 , 妹丁
Dongxing
妹仔
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)
女仔
Singapore (Guangfu)
女仔
Gan
Nanchang
女崽子
Pengze
女妹
Hakka
Meixian
細妹仔
Xingning
細妹哩
Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)
女仔
Huidong (Daling)
阿僬妹仔
Dongguan (Qingxi)
僬妹
Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)
老妹仔
Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)
女仔 , 僬妹仔
Shaoguan (Qujiang)
細妹子
Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)
細妹仔
Conghua (Lütian)
妹仔
Changting
細妹子
Wuping
細妹子
Wuping (Pingyu)
細妹子
Liancheng
妹子人
Ninghua
女子薩
Ruijin
女客子 , 細女子
Shicheng
細女女子
Miaoli (N. Sixian)
細妹仔
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)
細妹仔
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)
細妹仔
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)
細妹
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)
細妹仔 , 細妹
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)
妹子 , 妹子人
Jin
Taiyuan
妮子 , 女娃娃
Min Bei
Jian'ou
阿娘囝仔
Min Dong
Fuzhou
諸娘囝
Matsu
諸娘囝
Min Nan
Xiamen
查某囡仔
Xiamen (Tong'an)
查某囡仔
Quanzhou
查某囡仔
Zhangzhou
查某囡仔 , 查某嬰
Taipei
查某囡仔
New Taipei (Sanxia)
查某囡仔
Kaohsiung
查某囝
Yilan
查某囡仔
Changhua (Lukang)
查某囡仔
Taichung
查某囡仔
Tainan
查某囡仔
Hsinchu
查某囡仔
Kinmen
查某囡仔
Penghu (Magong)
查某囡仔
Penang (Hokkien)
查某囡仔
Singapore (Hokkien)
查某囡仔
Manila (Hokkien)
查某囡仔
Chaozhou
諸娘囝
Shantou
諸娘囝 , 查某囝
Shantou (Chenghai)
諸娘囝
Jieyang
諸娘囝
Lufeng
查某囡仔
Haifeng
查某囡仔
Johor Bahru (Teochew)
查某囝
Singapore (Teochew)
查某囝
Leizhou
查某囝
Wenchang
查某囝
Haikou
查某囝
Zhongshan Min
Shaxi (Longdu)
女囝
Waxiang
Guzhang (Gaofeng)
女子
Wu
Shanghai
女小囡 , 小鬼丫頭
Shanghai (Chongming)
丫頭 , 小娘
Suzhou
小娘兒 , 女小干
Ningbo
小娘 , 小娘屄 , 小娘頭 , 娘子
Wenzhou
女兒 , 媛子兒
Xiang
Changsha
妹子 , 細妹子 , 妹伢子
Shuangfeng
妹唧 , 細妹唧
Dialectal synonyms of
女兒 (“daughter”)
[map]
Variety
Location
Words
Classical Chinese
女
Formal (Written Standard Chinese )
女兒
Mandarin
Beijing
女兒 , 女花兒 , 閨女 , 姑娘 , 丫頭
Taiwan
女兒
Tianjin
女兒 , 閨女 , 小棉襖 humorous
Langfang
閨妮
Tangshan
閨女
Cangzhou
閨女
Baoding
閨女
Shijiazhuang
閨女
Daming
妮兒
Bayanhot
丫頭
Hulunbuir (Hailar)
女兒
Harbin
女兒 , 姑娘 , 閨女 , 閨娘 , 丫頭
Shenyang
姑娘 , 丫頭
Yantai (Muping)
閨娘 , 閨娘子 , 女兒
Qingdao
閨女
Weifang (Weicheng)
閨女
Weifang (Fangzi)
閨女 , 嫚兒
Weifang (Hanting)
閨女
Changyi
閨女 , 嫚姑子
Gaomi
閨女 , 嫚兒 , 嫚兒姑子
Zhucheng
閨女
Anqiu
閨女
Changle
閨女兒
Linqu
閨女
Qingzhou
閨女
Shouguang
閨女
Wulian
閨女 , 丫頭 , 嫚兒 , 識字班
Jinan
閨女
Wanrong
女子
Zhengzhou
閨女 , 妞
Xi'an
女 , 女兒
Yinchuan
女兒 , 丫頭
Lanzhou
女兒
Xining
姑娘 , 丫頭
Ürümqi
女兒 , 丫頭
Wuhan
姑娘 , 丫頭
Huanggang
女兒
Chengdu
女兒 , 女 , 姑娘兒
Guiyang
姑娘 , 女娃娃 , 女娃兒 , 幺女 , 幺姑娘 , 小丫頭 , 小姑娘
Kunming
囡兒 , 姑娘
Guilin
女兒
Liuzhou
女 , 丫頭
Sanjiang (Danzhou)
妹崽
Xuzhou
女兒 , 閨女
Yangzhou
女兒 , 姑娘
Nanjing
女兒 , 姑娘
Hefei
女兒 , 丫頭
Nantong
丫頭
Malaysia
女兒
Singapore
女兒
Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)
女兒 , 姑娘兒
Cantonese
Guangzhou
女
Hong Kong
女 , 女女 , 阿女
Hong Kong (San Tin Weitou)
女 , 妹仔
Hong Kong (Kam Tin Weitou)
女
Hong Kong (Ting Kok)
阿女
Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)
阿女
Macau
女
Guangzhou (Panyu)
女
Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)
女
Guangzhou (Conghua)
女
Guangzhou (Zengcheng)
女
Foshan
女
Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)
女
Foshan (Shunde)
女
Foshan (Sanshui)
女
Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)
女
Zhongshan (Shiqi)
女
Zhuhai (Qianshan)
女
Zhuhai (Doumen, Shangheng Tanka)
女
Zhuhai (Doumen)
女
Jiangmen (Baisha)
女
Jiangmen (Xinhui)
女
Taishan
女
Kaiping (Chikan)
女
Enping (Niujiang)
女
Heshan (Yayao)
女
Dongguan
女
Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)
女
Shenzhen (Dapeng)
阿女
Qingyuan
女
Fogang
女
Yingde (Hanguang)
女
Yangshan
妹仔
Lianshan (Butian)
女
Lianzhou (Qingshui Sihui)
女
Shaoguan
女
Shaoguan (Qujiang)
女
Renhua
女
Lechang
女
Zhaoqing (Gaoyao)
女
Sihui
女
Guangning
女
Deqing
女
Huaiji
女
Fengkai (Nanfeng)
女
Yunfu
女
Xinxing
女
Luoding
女
Yunan (Pingtai)
女
Yangjiang
桓仔 , 妹仔
Xinyi
女
Maoming (Xinpo)
女
Lianjiang
女
Wuchuan (Wuyang)
康女兒 , 夫娘儂
Nanning
女
Wuzhou
女
Yulin
女
Hepu (Lianzhou)
女
Guiping
女
Mengshan (Xihe)
女
Guigang (Nanjiang)
女
Beiliu (Tangliao)
女
Baise
女
Bobai
女
Lingshan
女
Pubei
女
Qinzhou
女
Beihai
女
Beihai (Nankang)
女
Beihai (Yingpan)
女
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô)
女 , 妹仔
Ningming
女
Hengxian
女
Hezhou (Pumen)
女仔
Fangchenggang (Fangcheng)
女
Danzhou
女
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)
女
Singapore (Guangfu)
女
Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu)
女
Móng Cái
女
Gan
Nanchang
女 , 姑娘
Lichuan
女
Pingxiang
女 , 妹仔
Hakka
Meixian
妹仔
Xingning
妹哩
Dabu (Xihe)
妹兒 , 女
Huizhou (Huicheng Bendihua)
阿女
Huiyang
妹子
Huidong (Daling)
妹仔
Dongguan (Qingxi)
妹主
Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)
妹主
Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)
妹子
Wuhua (Shuizhai)
妹哩
Wuhua (Huacheng)
妹哩
Wuhua (Changbu)
妹哩
Wuhua (Mianyang)
妹哩
Heyuan (Bendihua)
阿女
Wengyuan
妹子
Shaoguan (Qujiang)
妹子
Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)
妹仔
Liannan
妹子
Conghua (Lütian)
女
Jiexi
妹
Luhe
妹仔 , 阿女
Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)
阿女
Changting
妹子 , 女
Wuping
妹子
Wuping (Yanqian)
女哩
Wuping (Pingyu)
妹子
Liancheng
妹子娘
Ninghua
女
Yudu
女 , 女子
Ningdu
女
Ruijin
女 , 女子
Shicheng
女
Shangyou (Shexi)
女
Tonggu (Sandu)
妹子
Ganzhou (Panlong)
女
Dayu
女哩
Miaoli (N. Sixian)
妹仔 , 妹子
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)
妹仔 , 妹子
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)
妹仔 , 妹子
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)
妹 , 妹子 , 細妹
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)
妹仔 , 妹子
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)
阿女
Hong Kong
妹子
Yangxi (Tangkou)
妹子
Yangchun (Sanjia)
女
Xinyi (Sihe)
女
Xinyi (Qianpai)
女
Gaozhou (Xindong)
女
Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai)
女
Huazhou (Xin'an)
女子
Lianjiang (Shijiao)
妹𧊅 , 女子
Lianjiang (Qingping)
女
Mengshan (Xihe)
妹子
Luchuan
女
Luchuan (Daqiao)
女
Bobai (Shahe)
女
Beiliu (Tang'an)
妹
Mashan (Pianlian)
妹子
Sabah (Bao'an)
妹子
Sabah (Longchuan)
妹哩
Kuala Lumpur (Dabu)
妹
Senai (Huiyang)
妹子
Singkawang
妹子
Huizhou
Jixi
女
Shexian
女
Tunxi
囡 , 囡囝
Xiuning
囡兒
Yixian
囡兒
Qimen
女 , 女兒
Wuyuan
女 , 女兒 , 囡
Fuliang
女崽
Dexing
𡚴姑
Jingde
女伲
Shitai (Xianyu)
女兒
Jin
Taiyuan
閨女 , 姑娘 , 妮子
Pingyao
閨女 , 女子
Xinzhou
閨女
Hohhot
閨女 , 女子
Zhangjiakou
閨女
Handan
閨女
Min Bei
Jian'ou
阿娘囝
Jian'ou (Dikou)
娘囝
Songxi
阿娘囝
Zhenghe
阿娘囝
Zhenghe (Zhenqian)
娘囝
Jianyang
阿娘囝
Wuyishan
阿娘囝
Pucheng (Shibei)
阿娘囝
Min Dong
Fuzhou
諸娘囝
Changle
諸娘囝
Fuqing
諸娘囝
Yongtai
諸娘囝
Gutian
諸娘囝
Pingnan
諸娘囝
Fu'an
諸娘囝
Ningde
諸母囝
Shouning
諸母囝
Zhouning
諸娘囝
Fuding
諸母囝
Matsu
諸娘囝
Min Nan
Xiamen
查某囝 , 查某仔
Quanzhou
查某仔
Yongchun
查某囝
Zhangzhou
查某仔 , 灶雞
Zhangzhou (Changtai)
查某仔
Pinghe
查某囝 , 查某仔 Xiazhai, Jiufeng, Luxi
Zhangpu
查某仔
Dongshan
查囝
Taipei
查某囝
New Taipei (Sanxia)
查某囝
Kaohsiung
查某囡仔 , 查某囝
Yilan
查某囝
Changhua (Lukang)
查某囝
Taichung
查某囝
Taichung (Wuqi)
查某囝
Tainan
查某囝
Taitung
查某囝
Hsinchu
查某囝
Kinmen
查某囡仔
Penghu (Magong)
查某囝
Penang (Hokkien)
查某囝 , 查某仔
Singapore (Hokkien)
查某囝
Manila (Hokkien)
查某仔 , 查某囝
Longyan
查某仔
Zhangping
查某仔
Zhangping (Yongfu)
查某仔
Datian
阿使
Pingnan (Shangdu)
女
Chaozhou
走囝
Shantou
走囝
Shantou (Chenghai)
走囝
Jieyang
走囝
Haifeng
查某囝
Bangkok (Teochew)
走囝
Johor Bahru (Teochew)
走囝
Singapore (Teochew)
查某囝 , 走囝
Batam (Teochew)
查某囝 , 走囝
Pontianak (Teochew)
查某囝
Leizhou
查某囝
Wenchang
查某囝
Haikou
查某囝 , 查囝
Qionghai
查某囝
Puxian Min
Putian
嬸娘囝
Xianyou
子囝
Min Zhong
Yong'an
娘囝
Zhongshan Min
Shaxi (Longdu)
中母囝
Southern Pinghua
Nanning (Tingzi)
女
Northern Pinghua
Guilin (Dahe)
女
Shehua
Fu'an
女
Fuding
女
Luoyuan
女
Sanming
女
Shunchang
女
Hua'an
妹仔
Guixi (Zhangping)
女
Cangnan
女
Jingning
女
Lishui
女
Longyou
女
Chaozhou
女
Fengshun
女
Wu
Shanghai
囡兒 , 囡 dated , 囡兒大細 dated , 小鬼丫頭 endearing
Shanghai (Chongming)
丫頭
Suzhou
囡兒
Wuxi
囡兒
Danyang
女兒
Hangzhou
女兒
Ningbo
囡
Wenzhou
奶兒
Jinhua
囡兒 , 囡 , 女兒
Xiang
Changsha
女 , 妹子
Xiangtan
女 , 妹唧
Loudi
女
Shuangfeng
女
Jiangyong
女
Quanzhou
女崽
Compounds [ edit ]
Derived terms from 妹
令妹 (lìngmèi )
伊妹 (yīmèi )
你妹 (nǐmèi , “( Mandarin ) my arse”)
兄妹 (xiōngmèi )
兄弟姐妹 (xiōngdì jiěmèi , “brothers and sisters”)
十姊妹
堂妹 (tángmèi )
堂姊妹 (tángzǐmèi )
太妹
女妹
妹丈 (mèizhàng )
妹仔
妹夫 (mèifū )
妹妹 (mèimei , “younger sister”)
妹婿 (mèixù )
妹子 (mèizi )
妻姊妹婚
姊妹 (zǐmèi , “sisters”)
姊妹市 (zǐmèishì )
Descendants [ edit ]
→ Thai: หมวย ( mǔai , “ younger sister ” ) ( said by Chinese race )
References [ edit ]
Japanese [ edit ]
妹
(grade 2 “Kyōiku” kanji )
Readings [ edit ]
Compounds [ edit ]
Etymology 1 [ edit ]
⟨imo1 ⟩ → */imʷo/ → /imo/
From Old Japanese 妹 ( imo1 ) .
The medial /-m-/ means "woman , female ", found in a number of related terms such as 女 ( me , onna , “ woman ” ) , 嫗 ( omina , “ elderly woman” ) , and 母 ( omo , “ mother ” , archaic ) .
Pronunciation [ edit ]
妹( いも ) • (imo )
( archaic , said from a male speaker) a close female companion
one's sister regardless of age difference
one's lover or sweetheart who is the subject of marriage or is already married
905 –914 , Kokin Wakashū (book 11, poem 485)
かりごもの 思( おも ) ひ乱( みだ ) れて我( われ ) 恋( こ ) ふといも 知( し ) るらめや人( ひと ) し告( つ ) げずはkarigomo no omoimidarete ware kou to imo shirurame ya hito shi tsugezu wa (please add an English translation of this example)
( archaic , said from a female speaker) a close female companion
Antonyms [ edit ]
Derived terms [ edit ]
Etymology 2 [ edit ]
/imo ɸito/ → /imowito/ → */imowuto/ → /imoːto/
Originally a compound of 妹 ( imo , “ sister , close female companion ” ) + 人 ( hito , “ person ” ) .[2] [3]
This is an instance of ウ音便 ( u onbin , “ u sound shift” ) , found in terms with bilabial consonants (/m/ , /b/ , /w/ ) followed by i ; commonly seen in terms such as 玄人 ( kurōto , “ professional ” ) , 素人 ( shirōto , “ amateur ” ) , or possibly, 相撲 ( sumō , “ sumo ” ) .
Pronunciation [ edit ]
妹( いもうと ) • (imōto )
one's own younger sister
妹( いもうと ) の仇( かたき ) だ!何( なん ) 万( まん ) 人( にん ) だろうが地( じ ) 獄( ごく ) へ送( おく ) ってやる‼Imōto no kataki da! Nanmannin darō ga jigoku e okutte yaru‼This is for my sister ! Keep coming, all of you! I’ll send you all straight to hell‼
永( なが ) 束( つか ) 君( くん ) 「少( しょう ) 年( ねん ) 」じゃない…西( にし ) 宮( みや ) の妹( いもうと ) だってよNagatsuka-kun “Shōnen” ja nai… Nishimiya no imōto da tte yo Nagatsuka-kun. That's not a "boy"… Nishimiya said that's her sister .
Antonym: 姉 ( ane )
the wife of one's younger brother ; one's sister-in-law
Synonym: 義妹 ( gimai )
a younger female
( archaic , said from a male speaker) one's sister regardless of age difference
Antonym: 兄人 ( shōto )
(alternative reading hiragana いもっ , rōmaji imo' )
( Kagoshima ) younger sister
Derived terms [ edit ]
Etymology 3 [ edit ]
Appears in The Tale of Heiji , written around the mid-12th century.
Likely a variant shift from compound 妹 ( imo , “ sister , close female companion ” ) + 人 ( hito , “ person ” ) or a further shift from imōto above. ( Can this (+ ) etymology be sourced ?)
妹( いもと ) • (imoto )
( rare ) Same as いもうと ( imōto ) above
Proper noun [ edit ]
妹( いもと ) • (Imoto )
a placename
Etymology 4 [ edit ]
From Middle Chinese 妹 (MC muʌiH ).
妹( まい ) • (mai )
Same as いもうと ( imōto ) above
Proper noun [ edit ]
妹( まい ) • (Mai )
a female given name
References [ edit ]
↑ 1.0 1.1 1974 , 新明解国語辞典 (Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten ) , Second Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō : Sanseidō
^ 2006 , 大辞林 (Daijirin ) , Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō : Sanseidō , →ISBN
^ 1995 , 大辞泉 (Daijisen ) (in Japanese), Tōkyō : Shogakukan , →ISBN
^ 2006 , 大辞林 (Daijirin ) , Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō : Sanseidō , →ISBN
^ 1998 , NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary ) (in Japanese), Tōkyō : NHK , →ISBN
妹 (eumhun 누이 매 ( nu'i mae ) )
Hanja form? of 매 ( “ younger sister ” ) .
Old Japanese [ edit ]
Etymology 1 [ edit ]
The medial /-m-/ means "woman , female ", found in a number of related terms such as 女 ( me1 , womi1 na , “ woman ” ) , 嫗 ( omi1 na , “ elderly woman” ) , and 母 ( omo1 , “ mother ” ) .
妹 (imo1 → imo ) (kana いも )
said from a male speaker :
one's sister regardless of age difference
c. 759 , Man'yōshū (book 6, poem 1007), text here
言不問木尚妹 與兄有云乎直獨子尓有之苦者 ko2 to2 to1 panu ki2 sura imo to2 se ari to2 ipu wo tada pi1 to2 riko1 ni aru ga kurusisa (please add an English translation of this usage example)
one's lover or sweetheart who is the subject of marriage or is already married
c. 759 , Man'yōshū (book 3, poem 464), text here
秋去者見乍思跡妹 之殖之屋前乃石竹 開家流香聞 aki1 saraba mi1 tutu sino1 pe1 to2 imo ga uwesi nipa no2 nadesiko1 saki1 nike1 ru ka mo (please add an English translation of this usage example)
said from a female speaker :
a close female companion
c. 759 , Man'yōshū (book 4, poem 782), text here
風高邊者雖吹為妹 袖左倍所沾而苅流玉藻焉 kaze takaku pe1 ni pa pukedo2 mo imo ga tame2 so1 de sape2 nurete kareru tamamo so2 (please add an English translation of this usage example)
one's sister regardless of age difference
a daughter
711 –712 , Kojiki (poem 51)
...母登弊波岐美袁淤母比傅須恵幣波伊毛 袁淤母比傅... ...mo2 to2 pe1 pa ki1 mi1 wo omo2 pi1 de suwepe1 pa imo1 wo omo2 pi1 de... (please add an English translation of this usage example)
Antonyms [ edit ]
Derived terms [ edit ]
Derived terms
妹ら ( imora )
妹が家に ( imo ga ipe1 ni , pillow word )
妹が髪 ( imo ga *kami , pillow word )
妹が着る ( imo ga ki1 ru , pillow word )
妹が袖 ( imo ga so1 de , pillow word )
妹が手を ( imo ga te wo , pillow word )
妹が紐 ( imo ga pi1 mo , pillow word )
妹が目を ( imo ga me2 wo , pillow word )
妹許 ( imogari )
妹に恋ひ ( imo ni ko1 pi2 , pillow word )
汝妹 ( nanimo1 )
継妹 ( mamaimo1 )
吾妹 ( wagi1 mo1 )
Descendants [ edit ]
Etymology 2 [ edit ]
Shift from imo1 above, due to either for poetic reasons, haplology , or reduction of vowel clusters; the latter which seen in 吾妹 ( wagi1 mo1 ) .
妹 (mo1 → mo ) (kana も )
Same as いも ( imo1 ) above
c. 759 , Man'yōshū (book 20, poem 4388), text here
多妣等弊等麻多妣爾奈理奴以弊乃母 加枳世之己呂母爾阿加都枳爾迦理 tabi1 to2 pe1 do2 ma-tabi1 ni narinu ipe1 no2 mo ga ki1 sesi ko2 ro2 mo ni aka tuki1 nikari (please add an English translation of this usage example)
Etymology 3 [ edit ]
妹 (imu ) (kana いむ )
( regional , Eastern Old Japanese) Same as いも ( imo1 ) above
c. 759 , Man'yōshū (book 20, poem 4321), text here
可之古伎夜美許等加我布理阿須由利也加曳我牟多祢牟伊牟 奈之爾志弖 kasiko1 ki1 ya mi1 -ko2 to2 kagapuri asu yuri ya kaye ga muta nemu imu nasi ni site (please add an English translation of this usage example)
Vietnamese [ edit ]
Han character [ edit ]
妹 : Hán Nôm readings: muội
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.