男

See also: 勇

男 U+7537, 男 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7537 ← 甶 [U+7536] CJK Unified Ideographs 甸 → [U+7538]

㊚ U+329A, ㊚ CIRCLED IDEOGRAPH MALE ← ㊙ [U+3299] Enclosed CJK Letters and Months ㊛ → [U+329B]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order (Japan)

Han character

男 (Kangxi radical 102, 田+2, 7 strokes, cangjie input 田大尸 (WKS), four-corner 6042₇, composition ⿱田力)

Derived characters

• 侽, 𠲸, 娚, 㭷, 甥, 㽒, 𤳆, 嫐, 嬲, 勇, 莮, 舅, 虜, 𡇨

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 759, character 2
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 21730
• Dae Jaweon: page 1169, character 2
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 4, page 2529, character 5
• Unihan data for U+7537

Chinese

simp. and trad.		男
alternative forms		㽖 侽

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 男
Shang	Western Zhou	Spring and Autumn	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意) : 田 (“field”) + 力 (“strength”) – man providing the strength for agricultural and/or other kinds of (physical) labour on a field.

Etymology

Probably an area word. Compare Proto-Kiranti *nam (“man”), Proto-Monic *k()ɲoom (“young child”), Proto-Wa *h/ʔn[o]m (“young man”), Thai หนุ่ม (nùm, “young man; young”) (Schuessler, 2007).

Wang (1982) connects it to 農 (OC *nuːŋ, “farmer”). Goldin (2021) suggests a connection to 任 (OC *njɯms, “to bear; to be in charge”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): nán (nan²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄋㄢˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): nan²

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): нан (nan, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): naam⁴

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): nam³

• Gan (Wiktionary): lan⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): nàm

  (Hailu, HRS): nam

  (Meixian, Guangdong): nam²

• Jin (Wiktionary): nan¹
• Northern Min (KCR): nâng
• Eastern Min (BUC): nàng
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): lâm

  (Teochew, Peng'im): lam⁵ / nam⁵

• Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ⁶noe / ²noe
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): lan²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: nán
    • Zhuyin: ㄋㄢˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: nán
    • Wade–Giles: nan²
    • Yale: nán
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: nan
    • Palladius: нань (nanʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nän³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: nan²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: lan
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nan²¹/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: нан (nan, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /næ̃²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: naam⁴
    • Yale: nàahm
    • Cantonese Pinyin: naam⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: nam⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /naːm²¹/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: nam³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ⁿdam²²/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: lan⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /lan³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: nàm
    • Hakka Romanization System: nam^ˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: nam²
    • Sinological IPA: /nam¹¹/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: nam
    • Sinological IPA: /nam⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: nam²
    • Sinological IPA: /nam¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: nan¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /næ̃¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: nâng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /naŋ³³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: nàng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /nˡaŋ⁵³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: lâm
    • Tâi-lô: lâm
    • Phofsit Daibuun: laam
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /lam²³/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /lam¹³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /lam²⁴/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: lam⁵ / nam⁵
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: lâm / nâm
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /lam⁵⁵/, /nam⁵⁵/

Note:

• lam5 - Chaozhou;
• nam5 - Shantou.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶noe
    • MiniDict: noe^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³noe
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /nø²³/
  • (Northern: Suzhou)
    • Wugniu: ²noe
    • MiniDict: noe^平
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /nø²²³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: lan²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /l̃an¹³/

---

• Middle Chinese: nom

Rime
Character	男
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	泥 (8)
Final (韻)	覃 (159)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	那含切
Baxter	nom
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/nʌm/
Pan Wuyun	/nəm/
Shao Rongfen	/nɒm/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/nəm/
Li Rong	/nᴀm/
Wang Li	/nɒm/
Bernhard Karlgren	/năm/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	nán
Expected Cantonese Reflex	naam4

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*nˤ[ə]m/

  (Zhengzhang): /*nuːm/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	男
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	nán
Middle Chinese	‹ nom ›
Old Chinese	/*nˁ[ə]m/
English	man, male
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	男
Reading #	1/1
No.	9354
Phonetic component	男
Rime group	侵
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	南
Old Chinese	/*nuːm/

Definitions

男

1. man; (only of human in Standard Chinese) male

   男人  ―  nánrén  ―  man

   男孩  ―  nánhái  ―  boy

   Coordinate term: 女

2. son

   長男／长男  ―  zhǎngnán  ―  eldest son

3. baron, lowest of the five ranks of Chinese aristocracy (五等爵位) under the Zhou dynasty

   • 冬十有二月，會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、滑伯、滕子同盟於幽。邾子克卒。 [MSC, trad.]
     冬十有二月，会齐侯、宋公、陈侯、卫侯、郑伯、许男、滑伯、滕子同盟于幽。邾子克卒。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: Spring and Autumn Annals, circa 5th century BCE

     Dōng shíyǒu'èr yuè, huì Qíhóu, Sònggōng, Chénhóu, Wèihóu, Zhèngbó, Xǔnán, Huábó, Téngzǐ tóngméng yú Yōu. Zhūzǐ Kè zú. [Pinyin]

     Winter, 12th month: we met the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, Marquis of Chen, Marquis of Wey, Count of Zheng, Baron of Xu, Count of Hua, Viscount of Teng; we swore an alliance-covenant at You. Viscount Ke of Zhu died.

4. a surname

Synonyms

• 公 (gōng, “male (of animals)”)

Compounds

• 一男半女 (yīnánbànnǚ)
• 一索得男 (yīsuǒdénán)
• 一索成男
• 丁男 (dīngnán)
• 三男兩女 / 三男两女
• 三男四女
• 不帶頭巾男子漢 / 不带头巾男子汉
• 不戴頭巾男子漢 / 不戴头巾男子汉
• 中男
• 勇男蠢婦 / 勇男蠢妇
• 善男信女 (shànnán xìnnǚ)
• 喬男女 / 乔男女
• 多福多壽多男 / 多福多寿多男
• 大男
• 大男人主義 / 大男人主义 (dànánrénzhǔyì)
• 大男大女
• 大男小女
• 夫男
• 奇男子
• 女嫁男婚
• 女扮男裝 / 女扮男装
• 女扮男身
• 女男
• 女織男耕 / 女织男耕
• 好男不吃分家飯，好女不穿嫁時衣 / 好男不吃分家饭，好女不穿嫁时衣
• 姪男 / 侄男
• 婦男 / 妇男
• 孝男 (xiàonán)
• 宜男
• 家庭婦男 / 家庭妇男
• 寸男尺女
• 小男女
• 役男 (yìnán)
• 息男 (xīnán)
• 拖男帶女 / 拖男带女
• 拖男挈女
• 拖男挾女 / 拖男挟女
• 攜男抱女 / 携男抱女
• 攜男挈女 / 携男挈女
• 新好男人
• 潑男女 / 泼男女
• 生男育女
• 男丁 (nándīng)
• 男上位 (nánshàngwèi, “missionary position”)
• 男不男，女不女
• 男中音 (nánzhōngyīn, “baritone”)
• 男主角
• 男人 (“man”)
• 男人婆 (nánrénpó)
• 男伴 (nánbàn)
• 男低音 (“bass”)
• 男僧寺對著女僧寺 / 男僧寺对着女僧寺
• 男儐相 / 男傧相 (nánbīnxiàng)
• 男優 / 男优 (nányōu)
• 男兒 / 男儿 (nán'ér, “man”)
• 男兒有淚不輕彈 / 男儿有泪不轻弹 (nán'ér yǒu lèi bù qīng tán)
• 男兒膝下有黃金 / 男儿膝下有黄金 (nán'ér xīxià yǒu huángjīn)
• 男唱女隨 / 男唱女随
• 男士 (nánshì, “man”)
• 男大當婚，女大當嫁 / 男大当婚，女大当嫁 (nán dà dāng hūn, nǚ dà dāng jià)
• 男女 (nánnǚ, “man and woman”)
• 男女不親授 / 男女不亲授
• 男女大事
• 男女平權 / 男女平权
• 男女平等
• 男女授受不親 / 男女授受不亲 (nánnǚ shòushòubùqīn)
• 男女有別 / 男女有别 (nánnǚyǒubié)
• 男女老幼 (nánnǚlǎoyòu)
• 男妾 (nánqiè)
• 男娼 (nánchāng, “male prostitute”)
• 男婚女嫁
• 男婚女聘
• 男媒女妁
• 男子 (nánzǐ)
• 男子氣 / 男子气 (nánzǐqì, “manly”)
• 男子漢 / 男子汉 (nánzǐhàn)
• 男子漢大丈夫 / 男子汉大丈夫
• 男孩 (nánhái, “boy”)
• 男孩子 (nánháizi, “boy”)
• 男室女家
• 男家 (nánjiā)
• 男尊女卑 (nánzūnnǚbēi)
• 男工 (nángōng)
• 男左女右 (nánzuǒnǚyòu)
• 男廁 / 男厕 (náncè, “men's restroom”)
• 男性 (nánxìng, “male”)
• 男性沙文主義 / 男性沙文主义
• 男扮女裝 / 男扮女装 (nán bàn nǚ zhuāng)
• 男方 (nánfāng)
• 男星
• 男有分，女有歸 / 男有分，女有归
• 男朋友 (“boyfriend”)
• 男校 (nánxiào)
• 男根 (nángēn, “male genital”)
• 男權 / 男权 (nánquán)
• 男歡女愛 / 男欢女爱 (nánhuānnǚ'ài)
• 男氣 / 男气
• 男爵 (nánjué, “baron”)
• 男生 (nánshēng)
• 男男女女 (nánnánnǚnǚ)
• 男痴
• 男盜女娼 / 男盗女娼 (nándàonǚchāng)
• 男科 (nánkē)
• 男童 (nántóng)
• 男系
• 男美
• 男耕女織 / 男耕女织 (nángēngnǚzhī)
• 男聲 / 男声 (nánshēng, “male voice”)
• 男色 (nánsè)
• 男裝 / 男装 (nánzhuāng)
• 男賓 / 男宾 (nánbīn)
• 男配角
• 男風 / 男风 (nánfēng)
• 男高音 (nángāoyīn, “tenor”)
• 痴男怨女 (chīnányuànnǚ)
• 童男
• 童男女
• 童男童女 (tóngnántóngnǚ)
• 紅男綠女 / 红男绿女 (hóngnánlǜnǚ)
• 綠女紅男 / 绿女红男
• 美男子 (měinánzǐ)
• 美男破老
• 義男兒 / 义男儿
• 老少男女 (lǎoshàonánnǚ)
• 貴男 / 贵男
• 重男輕女 / 重男轻女 (zhòngnánqīngnǚ)
• 長男 / 长男 (zhǎngnán)
• 飲食男女 / 饮食男女 (yǐnshínánnǚ)
• 魯男子 / 鲁男子

 

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (男):

• → Japanese: 男(なん) (nan); 男(だん) (dan)
• → Korean: 남(男) (nam)
• → Vietnamese: nam (男)

References

• “男”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[5], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Japanese

Kanji

男

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

1. man
2. son
3. baron

Readings

• Go-on: なん (nan, Jōyō)^{←なん (nan, historical)←なむ (namu, ancient)}
• Kan-on: だん (dan, Jōyō)^{←だん (dan, historical)←だむ (damu, ancient)}
• Kun: おとこ (otoko, 男, Jōyō)^{←をとこ (wotoko, 男, historical)}、お (o, 男)^{←を (wo, 男, historical)}、おのこ (onoko, 男)
• Nanori: いさみ (isami)、いさむ (isamu)、おと (oto)^{←をと (woto, historical)}

Compounds

Compounds

• 男(だん)系(けい) (dankei, “male succession”)
• 男(だん)根(こん) (dankon, “penis”)
• 男(だん)子(し) (danshi, “boy”)
• 男(だん)児(じ) (danji, “infant boy”)
• 男(だん)娼(しょう) (danshō, “male prostitute”)
• 男(だん)爵(しゃく) (danshaku, “baron”)
• 男(だん)女(じょ) (danjo, “man and woman”)
• 男(だん)色(しょく) (danshoku, “homosexual”)
• 男(だん)性(せい) (dansei, “man”)
• 男(だん)声(せい) (dansei, “male voice”)
• 男(だん)装(そう) (dansō, “male costume”)
• 男(だん)尊(そん)女(じょ)卑(ひ) (dansonjohi, “male chauvinism”)
• 男(だん)優(ゆう) (dan'yū, “actor”)
• 男(なん)根(こん) (nankon)
• 男(なん)色(しょく) (nanshoku)
• 下(げ)男(なん) (genan)
• 次(じ)男(なん), 二(じ)男(なん) (jinan)
• 善(ぜん)男(なん) (zennan)
  • 善(ぜん)男(なん)善(ぜん)女(にょ) (zennan zennyo)
• 息(そく)男(なん) (sokunan, “son”, honorific)
• 嫡(ちゃく)男(なん) (chakunan)
• 長(ちょう)男(なん) (chōnan)
• 美(び)男(なん) (binan), 美(び)男(だん) (bidan)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
男
おとこ Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
漢 (manga slang)

⟨woto₂ko₁⟩ → */wotəkʷo/ → /wotoko/ → /otoko/

From Old Japanese.

Derived from おと (oto, “young?”, cognate with Old Japanese 復つ (wotu → otsu, “to become young again”)) +‎ 子 (ko, “child”).

Compare 少女 (otome, “young woman”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) おとこ [òtókóꜜ] (Odaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [o̞to̞ko̞]

• (Kyoto) お​とこ [óꜜtòkò] (Kōki)

Noun

男(おとこ) • (otoko) ^{←をとこ (wotoko)?}

1. a male person

   Antonym: 女 (onna)

2. (specifically) a man, an adult male

   Antonym: 女 (onna)

3. 男, 漢: (specifically) a manly man
4. a male lover

   Synonyms: 愛人 (aijin), 情人 (jōjin, jōnin), 情夫 (jōfu)

5. a manservant

   Synonym: 下男 (genan)

6. a husband

   Synonym: 夫 (otto)

7. (obsolete) an unmarried young man
8. (colloquial) homosexuality

   Synonyms: 男色 (danshoku), 若道 (nyakudō)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 男(おとこ)し (otokoshi)
• 男郎花(オトコエシ) (otokoeshi), 男郎花(おとこめし) (otokomeshi)
• 男(おとこ)親(おや) (otokōya, “male parent”)
• 男(おとこ)神(がみ) (otokogami, “masculine god”)
• 男(おとこ)側(がわ) (otokogawa, “man's side”)
• 男(おとこ)気(ぎ) (otokogi, “chivalrous spirit”)
• 男(おとこ)心(ごころ) (otoko-gokoro, “male mind”)
• 男(おとこ)言(こ)葉(とば) (otoko kotoba, “male language”)
• 男(おとこ)坂(ざか) (otokozaka, “steep slope”)
• 男(おとこ)手(で) (otokode, “male worker”)
• 男(おとこ)友達(ともだち) (otoko tomodachi, “boyfriend, male friend”)
• 男(おとこ)の子(こ) (otoko no ko, “boy”)
• 男(おとこ)の人(ひと) (otoko no hito, “adult man”)
• 男(おとこ)前(まえ) (otokomae)
• 男(おとこ)役(やく) (otokoyaku, “role of man”)
• 男(おとこ)山(やま) (otokoyama, “steep mountain”)
• 男(おとこ)鰥(やもめ) (otoko yamome)
• 男(おとこ)湯(ゆ) (otokoyu, “men's bath”)
• 男(おとこ)を上(あ)げる (otoko o ageru)
• 男(おとこ)を売(う)る (otoko o uru)
• 男(おとこ)を下(さ)げる (otoko o sageru)
• 男(おとこ)を知(し)る (otoko o shiru)
• 男(おとこ)を磨(みが)く (otoko o migaku)
• 色(いろ)男(おとこ) (irōtoko)
• 作(さく)男(おとこ) (sakuotoko)
• 下(しも)男(おとこ) (shimōtoko)
• 間(ま)男(おとこ) (maotoko)
• むくつけ男(おとこ) (mukutsuke otoko)
• 雪(ゆき)男(おとこ) (yuki otoko)

Idioms

Idioms

• 男(おとこ)が廃(すた)る (otoko ga sutaru)
• 男(おとこ)が立(た)つ (otoko ga tatsu)
• 男(おとこ)になる (otoko ni naru)
• 男(おとこ)は気(き)で持(も)て (otoko wa ki de mote)
• 男(おとこ)は閾(しきい)を跨(また)げば七人(しちにん)の敵(てき)あり (otoko wa shikii o matageba shichinin no teki ari)
• 男(おとこ)は辞(じ)儀(ぎ)に余(あま)れ (otoko haji gi ni amare)
• 男(おとこ)は松(まつ)女(おな)子(ご)は藤(ふじ) (otoko wa matsu onago wa fuji)

Proverbs

• 男(おとこ)の目(め)には糸(いと)を引(ひ)け女(おんな)の目(め)には鈴(すず)を張(は)れ (otoko no me ni wa ito o hike onna no me ni wa suzu o hare)
• 男(おとこ)は度胸(どきょう)女(おんな)は愛嬌(あいきょう) (otoko wa dokyō onna wa aikyō)
• 男(おとこ)は裸(はだか)百貫(ひゃっかん) (otoko wa hadaka-hyakkan)

Proper noun

男(おとこ) • (Otoko) ^{←をとこ (Wotoko)?}

1. a surname

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
男
お Grade: 1
kun'yomi

/wo/ → /o/

From Old Japanese.

Alternative forms

• 夫
• (male): 雄, 牡

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) お [óꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [o̞]

• (Kyoto) おー [óó] (Kōki – [0])

Noun

男(お) • (o) ^{←を (wo)?}

1. a man

   Antonym: 女 (me)

   • 711–712, Kojiki, poem 5:

     ...那許曾波(なこそは)遠(を)迩伊麻世婆(にいませば)... [Man'yōgana]

     ...汝(な)こそはをにいませば... [Modern spelling]

     na koso wa o ni imaseba

     (please add an English translation of this example)

2. a husband

   Synonym: 夫 (otto)

   Antonym: 女 (me)

3. a male

   Antonym: 女, 牝, 雌 (me)

4. something large, powerful, or otherwise masculine

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 男男(おお)しい, 男々(おお)しい (ooshii)
• 男(お)滝(だき) (odaki)
• 男(お)猫(ねこ) (oneko)
• 男(お)雛(びな) (obina)
• 桂(かつら)男(お) (katsurao)
• 須佐之男(すさのお) (Susanoo)
• 益荒(ますら)男(お), 大夫(ますらお), 丈夫(ますらお) (masurao)
• 寡(やも)男(お) (yamō)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
男
おのこ Grade: 1
irregular

Alternative spelling
男の子

Compound of 男 (o, “male”, see above) +‎ の (no, possessive particle) +‎ 子 (ko, “child”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) おのこ [óꜜnòkò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [o̞no̞ko̞]

• (Kyoto) お​のこ [óꜜnòkò] (Kōki)

Noun

男(おのこ) • (onoko) ^{←をのこ (wonoko)?}

1. a boy

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 男(おのこ)手(で) (onokode)
• 男(おのこ)同胞(はらから) (onoko harakara)
• 東(あずま)男(おとこ) (azuma-otoko)
• 上(うえ)の男(おのこ) (ue no onoko)
• 下種(げす)男(おのこ) (gesu onoko)
• 才(ざえ)の男(おのこ) (zae no onoko)
• むくつけ男(おのこ) (mukutsuke onoko)

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
男
なん Grade: 1
goon

/nam/ → /namʉ/ → /naɴ/

From Middle Chinese 男 (MC nom).

The 呉音 (goon) reading, so likely the initial borrowing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [nã̠ɴ]

Noun

男(なん) • (nan) 

1. a man

   Synonym: 男性 (dansei)

2. a son

   Synonyms: 倅 (segare), 息子 (musuko)

Derived terms

• 一(いち)男(なん) (ichinan)

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
男
だん Grade: 1
kan'on

/dam/ → /damʉ/ → /daɴ/

From Middle Chinese 男 (MC nom).

The 漢音 (kan'on) reading, so likely a later borrowing.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) だん [dáꜜǹ] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [dã̠ɴ]

• (Kyoto) だ​ん [dáꜜǹ] (Kōki)

Noun

男(だん) • (dan) 

1. a man
2. a son
3. a young man, especially one who reached adulthood

   Synonyms: 壮丁 (sōtei), 若者 (wakamono)

4. (historical) a baron

   Synonym: 男爵 (danshaku)

Proper noun

男(だん) • (Dan) 

1. a male given name

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 男 (MC nom). Recorded as Middle Korean 남 (nam) (Yale: nam) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

Hanja

Wikisource

男 (eumhun 사내 남 (sanae nam))

1. hanja form^? of 남 (“man”)

Compounds

Compounds

• 남자 (男子, namja, “man”)
• 남아 (男兒, nama, “boy”)
• 남근 (男根, namgeun)
• 남창 (男娼, namchang)
• 남색 (男色, namsaek)
• 남성 (男性, namseong)
• 남우 (男優, namu)
• 미남 (美男, minam)
• 남계 (男系, namgye)
• 남작 (男爵, namjak)
• 선남선녀 (善男善女, seonnamseonnyeo)
• 남존여비 (男尊女卑, namjonyeobi)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [6]

Kunigami

Kanji

男

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Kun: いけが (ikhekha, 男)、うんが (unkha, 男)

Etymology 1

From Proto-Ryukyuan *weke + *-ga (“diminutive suffix”).

Noun

男(いけが) (ikhekha) 

1. man

Etymology 2

From Proto-Ryukyuan *wenga.

Noun

男(うんが) (unkha) 

1. man

Okinawan

Kanji

男

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Kun: ゐきが (wikiga, 男)、ゆきが (yukiga, 男)、うぅとぅく (wutuku, 男)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
男
ゐきが Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Kanji in this term
男
ゆきが Grade: 1
kun'yomi

From Proto-Ryukyuan *weke + *-ga (“diminutive suffix”).

Noun

男(ゐきが) or 男(ゆきが) (wikiga or yukiga) 

1. man

Derived terms

• 男(ゐきが)しーじゃ (wikiga shīja, “older brother”)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
男
をぅとぅく Grade: 1
kun'yomi

Possibly from Japanese 男 (otoko, “man”).

Noun

男(うぅとぅく) (wutuku) 

1. (literary) man

References

• “ゐきが【男】” in JLect - Japonic Languages and Dialects Database Dictionary, 2019.

Okinoerabu

Kanji

男

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Kun: いぃんが (yinga, 男)、ゐんが (inga, 男)

Etymology

Kanji in this term
男
いぃんが Grade: 1

Kanji in this term
男
ゐんが Grade: 1

From Proto-Ryukyuan *wenga.

Noun

男(いぃんが) or 男(ゐんが) (yinga or inga) 

1. man

References

• “いぃんが・ゐんが【男】” in JLect - Japonic Languages and Dialects Database Dictionary, 2019.

Vietnamese

Han character

男: Hán Việt readings: nam
男: Nôm readings: nam

1. chữ Hán form of nam (“man; male”).

Derived terms

• 男正 (nam chính)
• 男界 (nam giới)
• 男人魚 (nam nhân ngư)
• 男兒 (nam nhi)
• 男女 (nam nữ)
• 男生 (nam sinh)
• 男清女秀 (nam thanh nữ tú)
• 男食如虎，女食如貓 (nam thực như hổ, nữ thực như miêu)
• 男性 (nam tính)
• 男尊女卑 (nam tôn nữ ti)
• 男裝 (nam trang)
• 男子 (nam tử)
• 男爵 (nam tước)
• 一男曰有，十女曰無 (nhất nam viết hữu, thập nữ viết vô)
• 次男 (thứ nam)
• 重男輕女 (trọng nam khinh nữ)
• 長男 (trưởng nam)

Yonaguni

Kanji

男

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Kun: びんが (binga, 男)

Etymology

From Proto-Ryukyuan *wenga.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /biŋɡa/

Noun

男(びんが) (binga) 

1. man

Yoron

Kanji

男

(First grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Kun: をぅいが (ōiga, 男)

Etymology

From Proto-Ryukyuan *weke + *-ga (“diminutive suffix”).

Noun

男(をぅいが) (ōiga) 

1. man