female

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: No on reading is listed, and the kun readings are め and めす. It has 14 strokes. It appears in words for female animals and female flowers.
• Basic usage: 雌 is read めす and 雌花 is read めばな.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 雌 / 雌花
  • 雌 means female and is read めす. It refers to a female animal in contrast with a male.
  • 図鑑で雌と雄の羽の違いを見比べた。 means “We compared the differences in plumage between females and males in the guidebook.”
  • 雌花 means female flower or pistillate flower and is read めばな. It refers to a female flower that bears fruit or receives pollen from a male flower.
  • キュウリの雌花の根元には小さな実が付いている。 means “A small fruit forms beneath the female cucumber flower.”