麀 (yōu) - A female deer & doe.

麀Tone 1

yōu ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

咏与

麀 · yōu

A female deer;

doe.

A female deerdoe.

Usage highlights

Female deerDoe and stagA herd of deer

Synonyms

  • 母鹿— female deer (more common modern term)

Antonyms

  • 牡— male animal (specifically, a male deer in classical context)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The doe (麀) grazed peacefully in the meadow.
  • He observed a herd of deer, including several does (麀).
  • The character 麀 specifically denotes a female deer.

Collocations

  • Female deer(麀鹿)
  • Doe and stag(麀牡)
  • A herd of deer(群麀)

Idioms

  • To be lascivious or promiscuous(聚麀)
  • Like a startled deer(麀惊)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in classical texts such as the Book of Songs (《诗经》), reflecting early Chinese familiarity with wildlife.
  • The idiom 聚麀 (literally 'gathering of does') is a classical allusion to promiscuity or improper relations, derived from the observation of deer mating behavior.
  • Its structure (two 'deer' radicals, 鹿) visually suggests the concept of 'female deer'.

FAQ