婢
maidservant
Readings
On'yomi
- ヒ
Kun'yomi
- はしため
Meaning
婢 centers on a female servant or maid, specifically a woman who performs household duties in a subordinate role.
Most common words using 婢
- 奴婢ぬひ
slaves (lowest class in the ritsuryō system); bondservants
- 一盗二婢三妾四妓五妻いっとうにひさんしょうしぎごさい
(the most thrilling relationships for a man are) another man's wife, a maidservant, a mistress, a prostitute, and finally his own wife
- 下婢かひ
servant girl
- 侍婢じひ
lady-in-waiting; female attendant
- 僕婢ぼくひ
male and female servants
- 公奴婢くぬひ
government-owned slave
- 婢ひ
female slave
- 官奴婢かんぬひ
government-owned slave
- 少婢しょうひ
young female servant
- 私奴婢しぬひ
privately owned slave
- 老婢ろうひ
old housemaid; old female servant
Study
Etymology
婢 combines 女 (woman) with 卑, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of low status, together meaning a female servant.
Meaning mnemonic
A woman 女 beside 卑, which suggests lowliness, gives the image of a maidservant doing humble work.
Reading mnemonic
For ヒ, imagine a maid saying 'Hee hee' while giggling at a joke: 'Hee' -> ヒ, and she is the maidservant.