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男男女女 (nán nán nǚ nǚ) — men and women (in large numbers), people of all kinds

Definition

A reduplicated bound form meaning crowds of men and women together, emphasizing many people of both kinds. Used in descriptive writing, not as a stand-alone noun.

bound form
men and women (in large numbers)people of all kinds

Examples

  • 男男女女，。
    Jiē shàng nán nán nǚ nǚ, rè nao jí le.
    The street was full of people, men and women, extremely lively.
  • 男男女女，。
    Guǎng chǎng shàng nán nán nǚ nǚ, dà jiā dōu zài tiào wǔ.
    The square was crowded with men and women, all dancing.
  • 男男女女，，。
    Gōng yuán lǐ nán nán nǚ nǚ, yǒu de sàn bù, yǒu de liáo tiān.
    In the park, men and women were everywhere — some walking, some chatting.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

男男male
男nánmale男nánmale
重叠Reduplication
女女female
女nǚfemale女nǚfemale
重叠Reduplication

男 means male and 女 means female; repeating both gives many men and women.

Characters in this word

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.

Open 男 →

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.

Open 男 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

女 shows a woman with folded arms, kneeling or standing. In the modern form the figure faces right, and the small enclosed part is what is left of one arm.

Open 女 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

女 shows a woman with folded arms, kneeling or standing. In the modern form the figure faces right, and the small enclosed part is what is left of one arm.

Open 女 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPeople (General)

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