雌 cí female
How to remember 雌: 此 this + 隹 pigeon = female. The girl at the pet shop asks whether this grey pigeon is a boy, and the owner laughs that it is female.
Component breakdown
雌 = 此 this + 隹 pigeon
- 此 this
- 止 stop
- 匕 spoon
- 隹 pigeon
The girl at the pet shop asks whether this grey pigeon is a boy, and the owner laughs that it is female.
How it is used
- The female of an animal: 雌性 (cíxìng) female (sex), 雌鸟 (cíniǎo) hen bird - paired with 雄 (xióng) male.
- For animals/plants use 雌/雄; for people use 女/男. Don't call a person 雌.
- 雌雄 (cíxióng) as a compound also means 'victory or defeat' - 一决雌雄 (yì jué cíxióng) to fight it out for supremacy.