Where the shape comes from
A figure kneeling with the arms folded across the body — the formal seated posture of early portraiture. The long sweeping stroke is the folded arms, the two crossing strokes the legs tucked underneath. It heads words for female relatives and qualities: 好, 她, 妈, 姐, 妹.
汉字 filed under 女
- 女nǚ (third tone, dipping)woman; female; daughter (in 女儿)3
- 好hǎo (third tone, dipping) hào (fourth tone, falling)good, fine, well; easy to do; (hào) to be fond of, to like6
- 妈媽mā (first tone, high and level)mother, mum (chiefly in 妈妈); a form of address for an older married woman6
- 妹mèi (fourth tone, falling)younger sister8
- 姐jiě (third tone, dipping)elder sister; a young woman (in 小姐)8