奴 (nú) - slave, servant, bondservant & a humble self-reference used by women in classical

奴Tone 2

nú ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 女

柠七

奴 · nú

slave, servant, bondservant;

a humble self-reference used by women in classical Chinese;

also used in compounds denoting servitude or subjugation.

slave, servant, bondservanta humble self-reference used by women in classicalalso used in compounds denoting servitude or subjugation.

Usage highlights

slaveservant girlenslavementslave societyslave ownerhumble self

Synonyms

  • 婢— servant girl, maid
  • 仆— servant, attendant
  • 隶— subordinate, servant

Antonyms

  • 主— master, owner
  • 君— monarch, lord

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • In ancient times, slaves (奴隶) had no personal freedom.
  • She humbly referred to herself as 'your servant' (奴婢) in the palace.
  • The imperial concubine called herself 'your humble servant' (奴家).
  • The nation was subjugated and enslaved (奴役).

Collocations

  • slave(奴隶)
  • servant girl(奴婢)
  • enslavement(奴役)
  • slave society(奴隶社会)
  • slave owner(奴隶主)
  • humble self-reference by women(奴家)

Idioms

  • Willing slave to a beauty(拜倒石榴裙下做奴)
  • Slave to wealth(守财奴)
  • Slave to foreign powers(洋奴)
  • Born slave(家生奴)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically referred to individuals without personal freedom, owned as property, common in slave societies.
  • Used by women in imperial China as a humble self-reference (e.g., 奴家) to show submission.
  • Appears in terms related to subjugation and servitude, reflecting historical social hierarchies.

FAQ