男 (nán) — male

Definition

Used as an adjective before a noun (男同学, 男老师) to indicate a male person. It labels gender on a person — for the person itself, use 男人; for a formal or gender-category sense, use 男性.

adjective
male
Easily confused

Examples

  • 男。
    Tā shì wǒ de nán tóng xué.
    He is my male classmate.
  • 男。
    Nà ge nán lǎo shī hěn hǎo.
    That male teacher is very good.
  • 。
    Wǒ yǒu yí gè nán péng you.
    I have a male friend.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

男 is made from 田, a field, and 力, strength. It shows a man working with strength in a field.

Appears in
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