breast, milk

Depicts a mother holding () a child () breastfeeding it.

Components
爫 iconic component

  Iconic component

zhǎo

  

hand, claw

is a component form of . Depicts a hand.

子 iconic component

  Iconic component

zi

  

child

◎ iconic component

  Iconic component

  

characterless component

Depicts a mother breastfeeding.

Evolution

乳 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
乳 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
乳 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
乳 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

breast, nipples; milk, suckle; breast; milk

Most common words with 乳
Freq.
Word
Meaning

breast

乳房

breast

乳头

nipple

乳酪

cheese

乳腺癌

breast cancer