乳 (rǔ)

(bound form) breast; (bound form) milk; (bound form) newborn; suckling

Etymology

Depicts a mother holding (爫) a child (子) breastfeeding it.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“乳,人及鳥生子曰乳,獸曰產。从孚,从乙。乙者,玄鳥也。《明堂》、《月令》:‘玄鳥至之日,祠于高禖以請子。’故乳从乙。請子必以乙至之日者,乙春分來,秋分去,開生之候鳥,帝少昊司分之官也。”

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