奴
Character Story & Explanation
Historically, 奴 appears in early Chinese legal codes like the Qin bamboo slips and Han dynasty records to denote legally bound servants or war captives. In modern usage, it survives mostly in fixed terms like 奴隶 (núlì, 'slave') and idioms such as 奴颜婢膝 (nú yán bì xī, 'fawning and obsequious'). It also appears critically in phrases like 房奴 (fáng nú, 'mortgage slave') — a widely used, media-coined term since the 2000s describing people financially enslaved by housing loans.
The character’s form is well-documented: oracle bone and bronze inscriptions show 奴 as a woman (女) with a hand (又) above her — symbolizing control or capture. This pictographic origin is confirmed by paleographers like Qiu Xigui and is not speculative.
Hi students! The character 奴 (nú) means 'slave' — but don’t think of it as just a historical word. It’s a foundational character with deep cultural weight. Its radical is 女 (nǚ, 'woman'), and the top part is 又 (yòu, 'again' or 'hand'), suggesting control over a person. Though simple (only 5 strokes), it carries heavy connotations of subjugation, power imbalance, and loss of autonomy.
This character appears mainly in classical texts, historical discussions, and compound words — not in everyday greetings! It’s HSK Level 6, meaning it’s for advanced learners who study formal, literary, or historical Chinese. You won’t hear it in casual conversation, but you *will* encounter it when reading about ancient China, legal history, or social structures.
Be careful: while 奴 can appear in modern slang (like 'work slave' — 打工奴), such usage is often ironic or critical — never neutral. It’s emotionally charged and historically sensitive. Understanding 奴 helps you grasp how Chinese reflects social hierarchy in writing — and why language reformers later avoided or replaced it in official contexts.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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