女 (neoi5)

This week’s character is 女 (neoi5) which means “female” in general terms, but can be used to mean “woman”, “girl” or “daughter” depending on context.

The correct formal pronunciation is “neoi5” but in day to day conversation, you’ll probably hear people say “leoi5” due to the evolution of Cantonese.

This character is also a radical, a building block used in other Chinese characters!

This character comes from a pictogram of a kneeling or standing woman (not my favorite etymology, given its gendered origins).

But that’s exactly why we need the International Day of the Girl Child: a day to remember that girls have voices and we should hear, amplify and celebrate them!