to have children

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and ⺼ represents the sound. The (child) component is upside-down, depicting a child being born head-first.

Components
子 iconic component

  Iconic component

zi

  

child

Depicts an upside-down child being born head-first.

⺼ sound component

  Sound component

ròu

  

meat, flesh

Evolution

育 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
育 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
育 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
育 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
育 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

produce, give birth to; educate; to have children; to raise or bring up; to educate

Most common words with 育
Freq.
Word
Meaning

教育

to educate

体育

sports

体育馆

gym

发育

to develop

to educate

Component uses

Meaning component in 1 character (0 verified)

Sound component in 2 characters (0 verified)

Unknown component in 2 characters (0 verified)