noun HSK 2
milk · breast · grandmother (paternal)
Meaning
This character primarily means milk or dairy products. It can also refer to breasts or breastfeeding. Additionally, it serves as a term for paternal grandmother in some regions, though 奶奶 is more common.
Usage
In everyday speech, 奶 usually refers to milk or dairy. When talking about cow's milk specifically, people say 牛奶. The grandmother meaning is mainly used in northern dialects. Young children might use 吃奶 for breastfeeding.
Examples
- 01我每天早上都喝一杯奶。.I drink a glass of milk every morning.
- 02这个婴儿还在吃奶。' .This baby is still breastfeeding.
Measure words
- 杯一杯奶
- 瓶一瓶奶
- 盒一盒奶
Common collocations
- 喝奶to drink milk
- 奶粉milk powder, formula
- 奶茶milk tea
- 奶瓶baby bottle
Origin
The character combines the woman radical 女 with 乃, which provides the phonetic component. This reflects the association with nursing and maternal functions.