娘

See also: 孃 and 嬢

娘 U+5A18, 娘 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5A18 ← 娗 [U+5A17] CJK Unified Ideographs 娙 → [U+5A19]

Translingual

Stroke order

Han character

娘 (Kangxi radical 38, 女+7, 10 strokes, cangjie input 女戈日女 (VIAV), four-corner 4343₂, composition ⿰女良)

Derived characters

• 𭉻, 𦷄, 𬏒

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 262, character 16
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 6304
• Dae Jaweon: page 529, character 6
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1054, character 5
• Unihan data for U+5A18

Chinese

trad.		娘/孃*
simp.		娘
孃: “mother”

Glyph origin

Characters in the same phonetic series (良) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
剆	*raːl, *raːlʔ
郎	*raːŋ
稂	*raːŋ
桹	*raːŋ
鋃	*raːŋ
硠	*raːŋ
浪	*raːŋ, *raːŋs
蜋	*raːŋ, *raŋ
琅	*raːŋ
狼	*raːŋ
欴	*raːŋ
踉	*raːŋ, *raŋ, *raŋs
莨	*raːŋ, *raːŋs
艆	*raːŋ
駺	*raːŋ
躴	*raːŋ
筤	*raːŋ
閬	*raːŋ, *raːŋs
哴	*raːŋ, *raŋs
蓈	*raːŋ
廊	*raːŋ
榔	*raːŋ, *raːŋʔ
螂	*raːŋ
瑯	*raːŋ
朗	*raːŋʔ
朖	*raːŋʔ
誏	*raːŋʔ
俍	*raːŋʔ
崀	*raːŋʔ
埌	*raːŋs
蒗	*raːŋs
娘	*naŋ
良	*raŋ
粮	*raŋ
悢	*raŋs

Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *naŋ): semantic 女 + phonetic 良 (OC *raŋ).

Etymology 1

Not attested in pre-Tang texts. It may ultimately have been a fusion of 女郎 (MC nrjoX lang, “lady”) (Coblin, 1994).

Alternatively, from 女 (OC *naʔ, “woman”) with an attached suffix *-ŋ also found in 卬 (OC *ŋaːŋ, *ŋaŋʔ, “I for my part”) as against 我 (OC *ŋaːlʔ, “I”) (Sagart, 1999: 134). However, evidence for this suffix is sparse; Sagart only adduces these two pairs of words.

As yet another suggestion, it may be a loan from Old Turkic anaŋ (“your mother”), from Proto-Turkic *ana ~ *eńe (“mother”) (whence Turkish ana and Uyghur ئانا (ana)) and *-iŋ (“second person singular possessive suffix”), (Vovin and McCraw, 2011).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): niáng (niang²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄋㄧㄤˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): nyiang²

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): нён (ni͡on, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): noeng⁴

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): niang³

• Gan (Wiktionary): nyiong⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): ngiòng

  (Hailu, HRS): ngiong

  (Meixian, Guangdong): ngiong²

• Jin (Wiktionary): nion¹ / nion³
• Northern Min (KCR): niông / niǒng
• Eastern Min (BUC): nòng / niòng
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): niû / niô͘ / niâu / niâ / liông / liâng

  (Teochew, Peng'im): nion⁵ / niên⁵ / niang⁵

• Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ⁶gnian / ²gnian
• Xiang

  (Changsha, Wiktionary): nyian²

  (Hengyang, Wiktionary): nian²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: niáng
    • Zhuyin: ㄋㄧㄤˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: niáng
    • Wade–Giles: niang²
    • Yale: nyáng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: niang
    • Palladius: нян (njan)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ni̯ɑŋ³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: nyiang²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: niang
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nʲiaŋ²¹/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: нён (ni͡on, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /niɑŋ²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: noeng⁴
    • Yale: nèuhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: noeng⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: nêng⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nœːŋ²¹/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: niang³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ⁿdiaŋ²²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: nyiong⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /n̠ʲiɔŋ³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ngiòng
    • Hakka Romanization System: ngiong^ˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: ngiong²
    • Sinological IPA: /ŋi̯oŋ¹¹/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: ngiong
    • Sinological IPA: /ŋioŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: ngiong²
    • Sinological IPA: /ŋiɔŋ¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: nion¹ / nion³
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /niɒ̃¹¹/, /niɒ̃⁴⁵/

Note: nion3 - used in words meaning “maternal grandmother”, e.g. 娘娘, 姥娘.

• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: niông / niǒng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /niɔŋ³³/, /niɔŋ²¹/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: nòng / niòng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nˡouŋ⁵³/, /nˡuoŋ⁵³/

Note:

• nòng - vernacular;
• niòng - literary.

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Hsinchu, Lukang, Sanxia, Yilan, Kinmen, Magong)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: niû
    • Tâi-lô: niû
    • Phofsit Daibuun: niuu
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei, Lukang, Yilan, Kinmen): /niũ²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /niũ²³/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Tainan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: niô͘
    • Tâi-lô: niôo
    • IPA (Tainan): /niɔ̃²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /niɔ̃¹³/
  • (Hokkien: Penang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: niâu
    • Tâi-lô: niâu
    • Phofsit Daibuun: niaau
    • IPA (Penang): /niau²³/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei, Tainan, Hsinchu, Lukang, Sanxia, Yilan, Kinmen)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: niâ
    • Tâi-lô: niâ
    • Phofsit Daibuun: niaa
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei, Tainan, Lukang, Yilan, Kinmen): /niã²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: liông
    • Tâi-lô: liông
    • Phofsit Daibuun: lioong
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou): /liɔŋ²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: liâng
    • Tâi-lô: liâng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: liaang
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /liaŋ¹³/

Note:

• niû/niô͘/niâu - vernacular;
• niâ - vernacular (“mother”);
• liông/liâng - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: nion⁵ / niên⁵ / niang⁵
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: niôⁿ / niêⁿ / niâng
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nĩõ⁵⁵/, /nĩẽ⁵⁵/, /niaŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

• nion5 - vernacular (Shantou, Chaoyang, Jieyang, Raoping);
• niên5 - vernacular (Chaozhou, Chenghai, Bangkok);
• niang5 - literary.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶gnian
    • MiniDict: nyan^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³nyian
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /n̠ʲiã²³/
  • (Northern: Suzhou)
    • Wugniu: ²gnian
    • MiniDict: nyan^平
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /n̠ʲiã²²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: nyian²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /n̠ʲi̯æn¹³/
  • (Hengyang)
    • Wiktionary: nian²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /n̠ʲi̯an¹¹/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 娘
Mandarin	Beijing	/niɑŋ³⁵/
	Harbin	/niaŋ²⁴/
	Tianjin	/niɑŋ⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/ȵiaŋ⁴²/
	Qingdao	/niaŋ⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/niaŋ⁴²/
	Xi'an	/niaŋ²⁴/
	Xining	/ȵiɔ̃²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/niɑŋ⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/ȵiɑ̃⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/ȵiɑŋ⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/niaŋ²¹³/
	Chengdu	/ȵiaŋ³¹/
	Guiyang	/niaŋ²¹/
	Kunming	/niã̠³¹/
	Nanjing	/liaŋ²⁴/ 爹～ /liaŋ³¹/ 姑姑
	Hefei	/liɑ̃⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/niɒ̃¹¹/ ～家 /niɒ̃⁴⁵/ 姥姥
	Pingyao	/ȵiɑŋ¹³/ /ȵyə¹³/ ～～廟
	Hohhot	/niɑ̃³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/ȵiã²³/
	Suzhou	/ȵiã¹³/
	Hangzhou	/ȵiɑŋ²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/ȵi³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/nia⁴⁴/
	Tunxi	/ȵiau⁴⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/ȵian¹³/
	Xiangtan	/ȵian¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/ȵiɔŋ⁴⁵/
Hakka	Meixian	/ŋioŋ¹¹/
	Taoyuan	/ŋioŋ¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/nœŋ²¹/
	Nanning	/nɛŋ⁵⁵/ /nœŋ²¹/
	Hong Kong	/nœŋ²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/liɔŋ³⁵/ /niu³⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/nuoŋ⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/niɔŋ³³/ /niɔŋ²¹/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/niõ⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/niaŋ³¹/ /nio³¹/

---

• Middle Chinese: nrjang

Rime
Character	娘
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	娘 (12)
Final (韻)	陽 (105)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	女良切
Baxter	nrjang
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ɳɨɐŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/ɳiɐŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/niɑŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ɳɨaŋ/
Li Rong	/niaŋ/
Wang Li	/nĭaŋ/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ni̯aŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	niáng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	noeng4

• Old Chinese

  (Zhengzhang): /*naŋ/

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	娘
Reading #	1/1
No.	8045
Phonetic component	良
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	孃
Old Chinese	/*naŋ/
Notes	女郎合音

Definitions

娘

1. woman, especially a young girl

   姑娘  ―  gūniang  ―  girl

   • 江邊黃竹子，
     堪作女兒箱。
     一船使兩槳，
     得娘還故鄉。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     江边黄竹子，
     堪作女儿箱。
     一船使两桨，
     得娘还故乡。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: 〈黄竹子歌〉 "Song of the Yellow Bamboo" in 《樂府詩集》 "Collected songs of the Music Bureau style" by 郭茂倩 Guo Maoqian. Translated by Li Wai-yee (2014)

     Jiāngbiān huáng zhúzǐ,
     Kān zuò nǚ'ér xiāng.
     Yī chuán shǐ liǎng jiǎng,
     Dé niáng huán gùxiāng. [Pinyin]

     The yellow bamboo by the river,
     Can be made into a maiden's basket.
     One boat with two oars:
     Get the lady and return home.

2. (colloquial) mother; ma

   • 爺娘聞女來，出郭相扶將。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     爷娘闻女来，出郭相扶将。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: 6th century,《木蘭辭》 The Ballad of Mulan

     Yéniáng wén nǚ lái, chū guō xiāng fú jiāng. [Pinyin]

     Her father and mother – hearing their girl returns – go out to the suburbs to welcome her back.

3. wife of another person

   三伯、三伯娘 [Cantonese, trad. and simp.]

   saam¹ baak³, saam¹ baak³ noeng⁴ [Jyutping]

   father's third elder brother; wife of a father's third elder brother

4. elderly lady
5. (religion) "The Lady" (an epithet of the Fujianese sea goddess Mazu (媽祖 / 妈祖 (Māzǔ))

   • 天后宮位於澎湖縣馬公市正義街上，俗稱「天妃宮」、「媽祖宮」，在明代稱為「娘宮」、「媽娘宮」、「娘媽宮」「媽宮」等 [MSC, trad.]
     天后宫位于澎湖县马公市正义街上，俗称「天妃宫」、「妈祖宫」，在明代称为「娘宫」、「妈娘宫」、「娘妈宫」「妈宫」等 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2013?, "澎湖天后宫 (Penghu Tianhou Temple), 蚂蜂窝 (Mafengwo)

     Tiānhòu Gōng wèiyú Pénghú Xiàn Mǎgōng Shì Zhèngyì Jiē shàng, súchēng “Tiānfēi Gōng”, “Māzǔ Gōng”, zài Míngdài chēngwéi “Niáng Gōng”, “Māniáng Gōng”, “Niángmā Gōng” “Mā Gōng” děng [Pinyin]

     The Tianhou Temple located on Zhengyi Street, Magong City, Penghu County, commonly known as the “Tianfei Temple” or the “Mazu Temple”, known as “Niang Temple”, “Maninang Temple”, “Niangma Temple”, etc. during the Ming dynasty

6. (usually derogatory, of a man or a boy) girly; effeminate; feminine

   娘炮  ―  niángpào  ―  sissy

   • 為什麼「臺北國語」會導致臺灣腔變「娘」？首先是外省人的出身。 [MSC, trad.]
     为什么「台北国语」会导致台湾腔变「娘」？首先是外省人的出身。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 2019 March 26, 郑子宁 (Zhen Zining), 《台湾腔为什么这么“娘”》, in 《国防时报》, page 21

     Wèishénme “Táiběi guóyǔ” huì dǎozhì táiwānqiāng biàn “niáng”? Shǒuxiān shì wàishěngrén de chūshēn. [Pinyin]

     Why does "Taipei Mandarin" cause the Taiwanese accent to be "girly"? First, it is the background of the waishengren.

7. (～母) (Chinese linguistics) the Middle Chinese initial of 娘 (MC nrjang)

Usage notes

• In Hokkien, 娘 (niâ) is vulgar when used with 恁 (lín), due to being used in terms such as 姦恁娘／奸恁娘, 使恁娘, 姦恁娘母／奸恁娘母, and 姦恁娘母臭膣屄／奸恁娘母臭膣屄.

Synonyms

• (mum):

Dialectal synonyms of 媽媽 (“mum; mother”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		母, 娘
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		母親
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	媽媽, 媽, 娘, 母親
	Taiwan	媽媽, 媽
	Chengde	母親, 媽媽
	Chifeng	媽媽
	Hulunbuir (Hailar)	媽, 媽媽
	Heihe	母親, 媽媽
	Qiqihar	媽媽
	Harbin	媽, 媽媽, 母親
	Jiamusi	母親, 媽媽
	Baicheng	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Changchun	媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Tonghua	媽媽, 媽
	Shenyang	媽媽, 母親, 額娘 dated, Manchus
	Jinzhou	母親, 媽媽, 媽
	Malaysia	媽媽, 媽
	Singapore	媽媽, 媽, 老媽 <>
Jilu Mandarin	Tianjin	媽媽, 娘
	Tangshan	母親, 媽媽
	Cangzhou	母親, 媽媽, 娘, 𫰎
	Baoding	母親, 媽媽, 媽
	Shijiazhuang	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Lijin	媽
	Jinan	媽, 媽媽, 娘
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Dalian	媽媽
	Dandong	母親, 媽媽
	Yantai	媽
	Yantai (Muping)	媽
	Qingdao	媽, 娘
	Zhucheng	媽媽, 媽, 娘
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	媽, 媽兒
	Lingbao	媽, 娘
	Jining	媽媽, 娘
	Wanrong	嬤
	Wanrong (Ronghe)	媽
	Linfen	媽
	Shangqiu	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Yuanyang	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Zhengzhou	媽, 娘
	Baihe	母親, 媽媽
	Xi'an	媽
	Baoji	母親, 媽, 娘
	Xining	阿媽, 媽媽, 姆媽
	Xuzhou	媽媽, 娘, 大兒, 母親
	Fuyang	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	媽, 母親, 媽媽
	Lanzhou	媽, 媽媽, 老媽 <>, 母親
	Dunhuang	媽媽, 媽
	Hami	媽媽
	Ürümqi	媽媽, 媽, 老娘 <>, 阿娘 Hui, 阿娘子 used with minorities, 母親
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	媽媽, 媽
	Nanchong	母親, 媽媽
	Dazhou	媽
	Hanyuan	母親, 媽媽
	Xichang	母親, 媽媽
	Zigong	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Chongqing	媽媽, 媽
	Wuhan	姆媽, 媽媽, 老娘 <>, 黎山老 slang, 孟子見 dated slang, 娘
	Yichang	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘, 大老
	Xiangyang	母親, 媽媽, 娘
	Tianmen	母親, 媽媽, 娘, 姆媽
	Guiyang	媽, 老媽 <>, humorous
	Zunyi	母兒, 媽
	Bijie	媽
	Liping	媽
	Zhaotong	媽媽, 嬸嬸
	Dali	阿媽
	Kunming	媽, 媽媽, 母親
	Mengzi	媽媽
	Guilin	媽媽
	Liuzhou	阿媽, 媽, 娘老 <>, 老媽子 <>, 娘, 母親
	Jishou	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Changde	姆媽
	Hanzhong	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Mae Salong (Lancang)	阿媽, 媽媽
	Mae Sai (Tengchong)	媽
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	媽, 姆媽, 娘
	Yangzhou	媽媽, 姆媽, 老娘 <>, 母親
	Lianyungang	母親, 媽媽
	Lianshui	母親, 媽
	Nantong	姆媽, 娘嬭 dated, 母親
	Anqing	母親, 媽媽
	Wuhu	媽媽, 姆媽
	Hefei	媽, 媽爺
	Hong'an	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 大, 娘
Cantonese	Guangzhou	阿媽, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	Hong Kong	媽咪, 阿媽, 媽媽, 媽打, 老母 <>, 老媽子 <>
	Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou)	阿媽, 阿奶, 老母 <>
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou)	媽, 阿媽
	Hong Kong (Ting Kok)	阿奶, 阿仔
	Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau)	阿奶
	Macau	阿媽, 媽咪, 老母 <>
	Guangzhou (Xinjiao, Haizhu)	媽媽, 阿媽
	Guangzhou (Longxi, Liwan)	阿媽, 阿嫂
	Guangzhou (Huangpu)	阿媽, 阿娘, 阿大, 阿嬸
	Guangzhou (Xinshi, Baiyun)	阿媽, 阿嫂
	Guangzhou (Shijing, Baiyun)	阿媽, 阿嬸, 阿嫂
	Guangzhou (Jiangcun, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Longgui, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Renhe, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Zhuliao, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Zhongluotan, Baiyun)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Jiufo, Huangpu)	阿大
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	阿媽, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	媽媽, 老母 <>
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	阿奶, 阿嬸, 老母 <>
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	阿奶, 阿嫂, 阿嬸, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	Foshan	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	阿嬸, 阿媽, 老母 <>
	Foshan (Shunde)	阿娘, 老母 <>
	Foshan (Sanshui)	阿媽, 阿家, 老母 <>
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	阿媽, 老母 <>, 母親 <>
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Taishan	阿媽, 媽, 老母 <>
	Kaiping (Chikan)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Enping (Niujiang)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Heshan (Yayao)	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Dongguan	阿媽, 阿奶, 阿姐, 媽媽 childish, 媽咪 childish, 老母 <>, 老乸 <>, Changping
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	阿大, 阿媽, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	Shaoguan	阿媽, 老母
	Yunfu	老母, 阿媽
	Yangjiang	阿媽, 阿娘, 阿奶 <>
	Xinyi	阿媽, 老母 <>
	Lianjiang	阿媽, 老母, 媽媽
	Lianjiang (Cheban)	阿奶
	Wuchuan (Wuyang)	阿媽, 阿奶
	Wuchuan (Meilu)	老母
	Nanning	媽媽, 阿媽, 媽, 老乸 <>, 老娘 <>, 老媽子 <>
	Hepu (Lianzhou)	媽媽, 阿奶, 阿嬸, 俺乸 <>
	Hepu (Shatian)	媽媽
	Beihai	媽媽, 老奶 <>
	Beihai (Nankang)	阿媽, 阿奶, 阿娘 <>
	Beihai (Yingpan)	媽媽, 阿媽, 阿嬸, 老媽 <>
	Danzhou	母
	Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)	阿媽, 媽咪, 老媽子 <>
	Singapore (Guangfu)	阿媽, 媽媽, 老母 <>
Gan	Nanchang	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Lichuan	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Pingxiang	姆媽, 娘老子 <>
Hakka	Meixian	阿姆, 阿嫲, 哀仔 <>
	Xingning	阿媽, 哀哩 <>
	Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua)	阿媽, 阿奶 <>
	Huidong (Daling)	阿姆, 媽
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	阿媽, 阿姆 <>
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	阿媽, 阿姆 <>
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	阿媽, 阿姆 <>
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	阿嫲, 阿娘, 阿姆
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	阿嫲, 阿娘, 阿姆, 哀哩
	Wuhua (Changbu)	阿媽, 阿姆
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	阿娘
	Wuhua (Meilin)	嫲, 阿嫲
	Heyuan (Bendihua)	阿媽
	Wengyuan	哀子, 阿姆
	Shaoguan (Qujiang)	阿姆, 哀子 <>
	Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang)	阿姆, 阿嬸
	Liannan	姆, 媽
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	阿姆
	Jiexi	阿姆
	Raoping (Xinfeng)	阿姨, 阿禾 <>
	Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan)	阿奶
	Changting	姆媽, 姆娓, 哀哩 <>
	Wuping	姆姆, 依呀, 哀哩 <>
	Wuping (Yanqian)	哀哩
	Wuping (Pingyu)	姆, 哀子 <>
	Liancheng	姆, 哀 <>
	Ninghua	姆媽, 母
	Yudu	姆, 媽媽, 媽
	Ningdu	姐
	Ruijin	姆媽, 哀 <>, 乳子 <>
	Shicheng	姆媽, 哀 <>
	Shangyou (Shexi)	嫫, 姐佬 <>
	Tonggu (Sandu)	姆㜷
	Ganzhou (Panlong)	嬤
	Dayu	姐佬, 姆姆
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	阿姆, 哀仔 <>
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	阿姆, 唔媽, 哀仔 <>
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	阿姆, 哀仔 <>
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	阿姆, 哀 <>
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	阿姆, 哀仔 <>
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	阿依, 哀仔 <>
	Hong Kong	阿媽, 阿姆 <>
	Yangxi (Tangkou)	奶
	Yangchun (Sanjia)	阿媽
	Xinyi (Sihe)	老母, 老哀, 阿媽
	Xinyi (Qianpai)	阿媽, 哀子
	Gaozhou (Xindong)	阿媽
	Maoming (Shalang, Dianbai)	阿嬸, 阿奶, 阿嫂, 阿媽
	Huazhou (Xin'an)	哀子
	Lianjiang (Shijiao)	阿媽, 哀子, 阿奶
	Lianjiang (Qingping)	阿媽, 哀
	Mengshan (Xihe)	娘, 嫂
	Luchuan	阿姆
	Sabah (Longchuan)	阿姆
	Senai (Huiyang)	阿媽
	Singkawang	阿姆
Huizhou	Jixi	姆, 娘 <>
	Shexian	姆媽, 媽媽, 阿姨
Jin	Taiyuan	媽, 媽媽
	Yangyuan	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Datong	母親, 媽
	Xinzhou	波哇, 波波呀, 呀波呀, 波, 波波
	Lüliang (Lishi)	母親, 媽
	Changzhi	娘, 媽
	Linhe	母親, 媽媽, 媽
	Jining	媽媽
	Hohhot	母親, 媽媽
	Erenhot	母親, 媽媽
	Pingshan	母親, 娘
	Zhangjiakou	母親, 媽媽, 媽, 娘
	Handan	母親, 娘
	Linzhou	娘
	Suide	媽
Northern Min	Jian'ou	依呀, 媽媽, 奶 <>
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	依媽, 依奶, 娘嬭 <>
	Fuqing	奶, 依奶, 媽媽, 依娜, 娘嬭 <>
	Matsu	依奶, 娘嬭 <>
	Singapore (Fuqing)	媽媽
Southern Min	Xiamen	阿母, 阿母仔, 母仔, 阿媽, 阿娘, 老母 <>, 娘嬭 <>
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	老母 <>, 俺母仔
	Quanzhou	阿母, 母仔, 阿娘, 老母 <>
	Jinjiang	老母 <>
	Hui'an	阿娘
	Zhangzhou	阿母, 母仔, 咉奶, 嘔傴 euphemistic, 老母 <>, 娘嬭 <>, 豬母 <>, humorous
	Yunxiao	阿伊, 娘嬭
	Taipei	阿母, 阿娘, 媽媽, 老母 <>
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	阿母, 阿娘, 姨仔, 老母 <>
	Kaohsiung	卡桑, 阿母仔, 老母 <>
	Yilan	阿母, 阿娘, 老母 <>
	Changhua (Lukang)	阿母, 阿娘, 姨仔, 老母 <>
	Taichung	媽媽, 阿母, 老母 <>
	Tainan	歐卡桑, 阿母, 俺娘仔, 娘嬭, 老母 <>
	Hsinchu	媽媽, 阿娘, 阿母, 老母 <>
	Kinmen	俺娘仔, 老母 <>, 俺母 <>
	Penghu (Magong)	阿母, 老母 <>
	Penang (Hokkien)	阿母, 阿媽, 媽媽, 媽, 老母 <>
	Singapore (Hokkien)	阿母, 老母 <>
	Manila (Hokkien)	媽媽, 媽, 阿母, 母仔, 老母 <>
	Chaozhou	阿媽, 阿娘, 阿姈, 阿嬡 <>
	Shantou	阿媽, 阿嬡, 阿姈, 阿母, 嬡 <>, 母 <>
	Shantou (Chenghai)	阿媽, 嬡 <>, 母 <>
	Jieyang	阿媽, 阿嬡, 阿娘, 阿姈
	Haifeng	媽, 媽媽, 阿媽
	Johor Bahru (Teochew)	阿媽, 媽媽, 媽 <>
	Singapore (Teochew)	阿媽, 阿嬡, 母 <>, 老母 <>
	Leizhou	嬭, 嫂 dated, 姨 dated, 母 <>, 尼母 <>, 尼姨 <>, dated, 尼嫂 <>, dated
	Haikou	阿媽, 阿姐, 阿娘 dated, 阿嫂 dated, 母 <>
Puxian Min	Putian	阿奶, 阿閨, 阿夫, 阿嫡 dated, 娘嬭 <>
	Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang)	阿夫, 阿奶, 娘嬭 <>
	Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu)	阿奶, 阿閨, 阿母, 娘嬭 <>
	Xianyou	阿奶 ><, 阿嫡 ><, dated, 娘嬭 <>, 阿哥
	Xianyou (Fengting)	阿奶 ><, 阿嫡 ><, 娘嬭 <>, 阿哥
	Xianyou (Youyang)	阿奶 ><, 姆媽 ><, 娘嬭 <>
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	媽媽, 媽, 老母 <>, 媽咪 <>
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	媽, 阿嫂, 阿嬸, 阿媼 dated, 老娘 <>
	Binyang	母親, 嬸
Wu	Shanghai	媽媽, 姆媽, 娘 <>
	Shanghai (Songjiang)	阿媽娘, 阿媽
	Shanghai (Nanhui, Pudong)	阿媽
	Shanghai (Jinshan)	媽媽
	Shanghai (Qingpu)	媽媽 ><
	Shanghai (Chongming)	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Suzhou	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Danyang	媽, 娘
	Hangzhou	姆媽, 媽媽, 娘 <>
	Ningbo	阿姆, 姆媽, 阿娘 <>, 老娘 <>
	Wenzhou	阿媽, 阿奶, 奶
	Jinhua	姆媽, 娘 <>
Xiang	Changsha	媽媽, 姆媽, 娘老子, 娘 <>
	Loudi	依爺, 姆媽, 娘老子, 娘 <>
	Shuangfeng	姆媽, 娘 <>
	Hengyang	姆媽 new-style, 娭毑 old-style, 娘 <>, 娘老倌 <>, 娘老倌子 <>
Note	><- face-to-face, <> - non-face-to-face

Compounds

• 丁娘十索
• 七娘媽 / 七娘妈
• 三娘教子
• 丈母娘
• 乾娘 / 干娘 (gānniáng)
• 二娘
• 二娘子
• 些娘大
• 伯娘 (bóniáng)
• 伴娘 (bànniáng)
• 偷婆娘
• 兩娘女 / 两娘女
• 公孫大娘 / 公孙大娘
• 再長爹娘 / 再长爹娘
• 出娘胎
• 出自娘胎
• 半老徐娘 (bànlǎoxúniáng)
• 可喜娘
• 可憎娘
• 喜娘 (xǐniáng)
• 回娘家 (huí niángjiā)
• 堂分姑娘
• 夜度娘
• 大姑娘 (dàgūniang)
• 大娘 (dàniáng)
• 大娘子
• 大腳婆娘 / 大脚婆娘
• 夫娘 (fūniáng)
• 女娘 (nǚniáng)
• 奶娘 (nǎiniáng)
• 姑娘
• 姑娘兒 / 姑娘儿 (gūniangr)
• 姑娘家
• 姑娘氣 / 姑娘气
• 姨娘 (yíniáng)
• 娘兒 / 娘儿
• 娘兒們 / 娘儿们 (niángrmen)
• 娘姨
• 娘娘 (niángniang)
• 娘娘腔 (niángniangqiāng)
• 娘婆
• 娘媽 / 娘妈 (Niángmā)
• 娘子 (niángzǐ)
• 娘子軍 / 娘子军 (niángzǐjūn)
• 娘子關 / 娘子关
• 娘家 (niángjiā)
• 娘母子
• 娘泡 (niángpào)
• 娘炮 (niángpào)
• 娘的
• 娘砲 / 娘炮 (niángpào)
• 娘老子 (niánglǎozi)
• 娘胎 (niángtāi)
• 娘舅
• 娘親 / 娘亲 (niángqīn)
• 婆娘 (póniáng)
• 婆娘子
• 媽娘 / 妈娘 (Māniáng)
• 嬌娘 / 娇娘
• 嬸娘 / 婶娘 (shěnniáng)
• 小姑娘 (xiǎogūniang)
• 小娘 (xiǎoniáng)
• 小娘子
• 師娘 / 师娘 (shīniáng)
• 廚娘 / 厨娘 (chúniáng)
• 後娘 / 后娘 (hòuniáng)
• 徐娘 (xúniáng)
• 徐娘半老 (xúniángbànlǎo)
• 掃晴娘 / 扫晴娘
• 新娘 (xīnniáng)
• 新娘子 (xīnniángzi)
• 新娘花
• 新娘車 / 新娘车
• 新嫁娘
• 晚娘 (wǎnniáng)
• 晚娘面孔
• 月宮娘娘 / 月宫娘娘
• 末娘
• 李三娘
• 梅花小娘
• 正頭娘子 / 正头娘子
• 歹婆娘
• 泰國新娘 / 泰国新娘
• 波娘
• 泰山娘娘
• 漁娘 / 渔娘
• 灰姑娘 (Huīgūniang)
• 爹娘 (diēniáng)
• 爺娘 / 爷娘 (yéniáng)
• 爺羹娘飯 / 爷羹娘饭
• 爺飯娘羹 / 爷饭娘羹
• 牧師娘 / 牧师娘
• 王母娘娘 (Wángmǔ Niángniang)
• 痘疹娘娘
• 白娘子
• 百花娘子
• 看麥娘 / 看麦娘
• 祭東施娘 / 祭东施娘
• 秋娘
• 管家娘子
• 紅姑娘 / 红姑娘 (hónggūniang)
• 紅娘 / 红娘 (hóngniáng)
• 紡織娘 / 纺织娘 (fǎngzhīniáng)
• 細娘 / 细娘
• 織布娘 / 织布娘
• 美嬌娘 / 美娇娘
• 老大娘 (lǎodàniáng)
• 老姑娘 (lǎogūniang)
• 老娘
• 老娘兒 / 老娘儿
• 老婆娘
• 老闆娘 / 老板娘 (lǎobǎnniáng)
• 花娘 (huāniáng)
• 花魁娘子
• 蕭娘 / 萧娘
• 親娘 / 亲娘
• 註生娘娘 / 注生娘娘
• 豆姑娘
• 豆娘 (dòuniáng)
• 豆娘子
• 趙五娘 / 赵五娘
• 酒娘子
• 重生爺娘 / 重生爷娘
• 針線娘 / 针线娘
• 鐵娘子 / 铁娘子 (tiěniángzǐ)
• 阿娘 (āniáng)
• 陳三五娘 / 陈三五娘
• 離娘飯 / 离娘饭
• 韋娘 / 韦娘
• 頭家娘 / 头家娘
• 養娘 / 养娘
• 養婆娘 / 养婆娘
• 馬頭娘 / 马头娘
• 駕娘 / 驾娘
• 麼娘 / 么娘

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (娘):

• → Japanese: 嬢(にょう) (nyō); 嬢(じょう) (jō); 嬢(にゃん) (nyan)
• → Korean: 낭(娘) (nang)
• → Vietnamese: nương (娘)

Others:

• → Khmer: នាង (niəng, “young woman; girl”)
• → Lao: ນາງ (nāng, “woman; girl; lady; Mrs.”)
• → Thai: นาง (naang, “woman; wife; female lover”)
• → Vietnamese: nàng (“lady; young woman; she”)

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• Cantonese (Jyutping): loeng¹

---

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: loeng¹
    • Yale: lēung
    • Cantonese Pinyin: loeng¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: lêng¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /lœːŋ⁵⁵/

Definitions

娘

1. (Cantonese) old-fashioned
   • 2016 February 16, 劉嘉寧, quoting 嚴勵行 [Johnny Yim], “Johnny Yim 如果命運能選擇……”, in 星島日報 [Sing Tao Daily], page 11:

     我發現中間有斷層，很多詩歌都是以前的製作人編寫的，現在沒有人去做，要唱亦只能唱上一代的廣東話詩歌，令人覺得很『娘』、很脱節。 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
     我发现中间有断层，很多诗歌都是以前的制作人编写的，现在没有人去做，要唱亦只能唱上一代的广东话诗歌，令人觉得很『娘』、很脱节。 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

     ngo⁵ faat³ jin⁶ zung¹ gaan¹ jau⁵ dyun⁶ cang⁴, han² do¹ si¹ go¹ dou¹ si⁶ ji⁵ cin⁴ dik¹ zai³ zok³ jan⁴ pin¹ se² dik¹, jin⁶ zoi⁶ mut⁶ jau⁵ jan⁴ heoi³ zou⁶, jiu³ coeng³ jik⁶ zi² nang⁴ coeng³ soeng⁶ jat¹ doi⁶ dik¹ gwong² dung¹ waa^6-2 si¹ go¹, ling⁶ jan⁴ gok³ dak¹ han² ‘loeng¹’, han² tyut³ zit³. [Jyutping]

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Compounds

• 娘炳

References

• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A00927

Japanese

Kanji

娘

(Jōyō kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: にょう (nyō)^{←にやう (nyau, historical)}
• Kan-on: じょう (jō)^{←ぢやう (dyau, historical)}
• Tō-on: にゃん (nyan)
• Kun: むすめ (musume, 娘, Jōyō)、こ (ko, 娘)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
娘
むすめ Grade: S
kun'yomi

From Old Japanese. First cited to the Nihon Shoki of 720.

Analyzed as a compound of 生す (musu, “to beget”) +‎ 女 (me, “female”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) むすめ [mùsúméꜜ] (Odaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [mɯ̟sɨme̞]

Noun

娘(むすめ) • (musume)  (counter 人)

1. (humble) a daughter
   • 2007 October 20, Izawa, Hiroshi with Yamada, Kotaro, “最(さい)終(しゅう)話(わ)：それぞれの道(みち)へ (Saishūwa: Sorezore no Michi e, “Final Chapter: Epilog”)”, in ファイアーエムブレム：覇(は)者(しゃ)の剣(つるぎ) (Faiā Emuburemu: Hasha no Tsurugi, “Fire Emblem: Sword of Champions”), Jump Remix edition, volume 5 (fiction), Tokyo: Shueisha, →ISBN, page 352:

     王(おう)国(こく)の『娘(むすめ)』セシリア

     Ōkoku no ‘Musume’ Seshiria

     Cecilia, ‘Daughter’ of the Kingdom

Synonyms

• (daughter): 娘(むすめ)さん (musume-san), お嬢(じょう)さん (ojōsan) (honorific)

See also

• 女(じょ)子(し) (joshi): girl
• 女(おんな)の子(こ) (onna no ko): girl
• 女(おんな) (onna): woman
• 息(むす)子(こ) (musuko): son
• 男(だん)子(し) (danshi): boy
• 男(おとこ)の子(こ) (otoko no ko): boy
• 男(おとこ) (otoko): man

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
娘
こ Grade: S
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling. See 子 (ko).

Noun

娘(こ) • (ko) 

1. alternative spelling of 子 (“girl”)
   • 1996 February 20 [1988 February 15], Mitsuru Adachi, “テイク・オフ (Teiku Ofu, “Take Off”)”, in ショートプログラム (漫(まん)画(が)) (Shōto Puroguramu (manga), “Short Program (manga)”), 25th edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, page 107:

     自(じ)分(ぶん)で自(じ)分(ぶん)の行(こう)動(どう)に条(じょう)件(けん)をつけちゃうんだよ、この娘(こ)—— 例(たと)えば、毎(まい)年(とし)初(はつ)雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)るまでモチは食(く)わないとか、霊(れい)柩(きゅう)車(しゃ)が通(とお)るまで道(みち)を渡(わた)らないとか、ネコがあくびするまでコタツを出(で)ないとか。

     Jibun de jibun no kōdō ni jōken o tsukechaun da yo, kono ko—— Tatoeba, maitoshi hatsuyuki ga furu made mochi wa kuwanai toka, reikyūsha ga tōru made michi o wataranai toka, neko ga akubisuru made kotatsu o denai toka.

     This girl, I’m telling you, she sets terms for every of her own actions— Like, not eating mochi until the first snowfall of each year, not crossing the street until the hearse passes by, or not leaving the kotatsu until her cat yawns.

Derived terms

• お転(てん)婆(ば)娘(こ) (o-tenbako, “tomboy”)
• ドジっ娘(こ) (dojikko, “clumsy girl”)
• 眼(め)鏡(がね)っ娘(こ) (meganekko, “bespectacled girl”)

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 娘 (MC nrjang). Recorded as Middle Korean 냐ᇰ (nyang) (Yale: nyang) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

Hanja

Wikisource

娘 (eumhun 아가씨 낭 (agassi nang))
娘 (eumhun 아가씨 랑 (agassi rang))

1. hanja form^? of 낭/랑 (“woman”)

Compounds

Compounds

• 낭랑 (娘娘, nangnang)
• 낭자 (娘子, nangja)
• 낭가 (娘家, nangga)
• 고낭 (姑娘, gonang)
• 낭자군 (娘子軍, nangjagun)
• 낭세포 (娘細胞, nangsepo, “daughter cell”)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [3]

Tày

Noun

娘 (nàng)

1. Nôm form of nàng.

References

• Lục Văn Pảo, Hoàng Tuấn Nam (2003) Hoàng Triều Ân, editor, Từ điển chữ Nôm Tày [A Dictionary of (chữ) Nôm Tày]‎^[4] (in Vietnamese), Hanoi: Nhà xuất bản Khoa học Xã hội

Vietnamese

Han character

娘: Hán Nôm readings: nương, nàng, nường

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