甥 shēng niece
niece; nephew; sister's child
How to remember 甥: 生 life + 男 male = niece. The aunt knits two hats for the new life on the way, one for a girl and one for a male baby, ready for her first niece.
Component breakdown
甥 = 生 life + 男 male
- 生 life
- ㇒ falling stroke
- 龶 plant
- 男 male
- 田 field
- 力 power
The aunt knits two hats for the new life on the way, one for a girl and one for a male baby, ready for her first niece.
How it is used
- Nephew/niece via one's sister - 外甥 (wàisheng) sister's son, 外甥女 sister's daughter.
- The 外 marks 'outside' the paternal line; contrast 侄子 (zhízi), a brother's son.
- Chinese kinship is precise: 甥 specifically the sister's/female-relative's child.
- Bound morpheme, appearing in 外甥/甥女.