舅 jiù mother's brother
mother's brother; uncle
How to remember 舅: 臼 mortar + 男 male = mother's brother. Mum hands the heavy mortar to the only male in the kitchen, her big brother, and the kids cheer for their mother's brother.
Component breakdown
舅 = 臼 mortar + 男 male
- 臼 mortar
- 男 male
- 田 field
- 力 power
Mum hands the heavy mortar to the only male in the kitchen, her big brother, and the kids cheer for their mother's brother.
How it is used
- Mother's brother - 舅舅 (jiùjiu) maternal uncle, 舅妈 his wife.
- Chinese kinship is precise: 舅 = mother's side; 叔/伯 = father's brothers.
- 舅子 (jiùzi) = brother-in-law (wife's brother): 大舅子 elder brother-in-law.
- Address a maternal uncle as 舅舅 or, more formally, 舅父.