<p>In general, it is 女.   </p>

<p>There are books such as 女訓 (Advice for Women) and 烈女傳 (Biographies of Notable Women).  </p>

<p>Also, 子 in 青青子衿 explicity referring to the <code>lady's lover</code> (where the whole sentence means her lover's green collar) , instead of referring to a <code>man</code>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T14:52:22.987Z
子 also means son, does that implies the lady's lover is a male?
user3919509
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T15:24:23.720Z
Depends on it's usage.  For example, 女子 means girl but 兒子 means son
Alex
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T17:19:10.933Z
@user3919509 yes, it implicitly means male. 子 here implicitly means 'you' (male). I am not so sure if a substitution with ' 女' works here.
Lost1
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T14:39:26.630Z
2014-08-12T14:46:10.477Z
2014-08-12T14:46:10.477Z
Alex
<p><strong>Re:...if it is talking about a woman?</strong></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Seems like this would be 女. </p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T17:20:16.937Z
@user3919509 yes, it implicitly means male. 子 here implicitly means 'you' (male). I am not so sure if a substitution with ' 女' works here.
Lost1
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T17:24:23.377Z
@Lost1 - Sorry I don't follow your comment. It seems to be on the wrong post. But, unless I misunderstand your request, you are asking for the single character for a woman (not a male). If you need something different, please modify the original question for clarity.
Tommie C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T14:20:07.873Z
2014-08-12T14:20:07.873Z
Tommie C.
<p><strong>The equivalent of <code>子</code> for women is also <code>子</code>.</strong> </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>【清·張自烈·正字通】子部：女子亦稱子</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Examples from Old Chinese texts:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>【孟子·告子下】逾東家牆而摟其處子，則得妻，不摟，則不得妻，則將摟之乎？</p>
</blockquote>

<ul>
<li>The Works of Mencius: "<em>Breaking into your landlord's house and harass the virgin girl gets you a wife; refrain from harassing and you don't get a wife. Does that mean you would do it?</em>"</li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
  <p>【詩經·國風·周南·桃夭】桃之夭夭，灼灼其華；之子于歸，宜其室家!</p>
</blockquote>

<ul>
<li>The Classic of Poetry: "<em>Forests are green and flowers are red; a girl is marrying, and she'll make her new family happy.</em>"</li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p>In ancient Chinese, <code>女</code> either meant "unmarried woman" or "you". The character for the latter usage became <code>汝</code>, but is still printed as <code>女</code> in many modern publications of ancient works.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T17:52:28.187Z
In addition, "女子" means women and children in Classical Chinese.
wuyefeibao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T22:15:42.477Z
I also want to point that the difference between 汝(less formal) and 子(more formal) is formality, not gender
HAL
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-12T17:31:41.797Z
2014-08-12T17:36:49.633Z
2014-08-12T17:36:49.633Z
Semaphore
<p>青青子衿，悠悠我心。但为君故，沉吟至今</p>

<p>Here:</p>

<p>子，对对方的尊称</p>

<p>子 implicitly implies the poem is addressing a man. The poem talks about how a lady misses a man. I just wonder if there is a corresponding word for Chinese. (i.e. what would you replace 子 by, if it were talking about a woman?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-13T05:38:12.850Z
Does a native speaker's opinion make sense? The first sentense doesn't mention the lover to be missed is a male person; 子 at here means "you". The reason why it's different than appearances in other references is it's making a "dual" with 我. This is common in 诗经, where this poem comes from.
Yvon
<usage><classical-chinese><old-chinese><gender>
What is the ancient Chinese one-character name for woman like '子’ means man?
# What is the ancient Chinese one-character name for woman like '子’ means man?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-12)

青青子衿，悠悠我心。但为君故，沉吟至今

Here:

子，对对方的尊称

子 implicitly implies the poem is addressing a man. The poem talks about how a lady misses a man. I just wonder if there is a corresponding word for Chinese. (i.e. what would you replace 子 by, if it were talking about a woman?

**Tags:** usage, classical-chinese, old-chinese, gender

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does a native speaker's opinion make sense? The first sentense doesn't mention the lover to be missed is a male person; 子 at here means "you". The reason why it's different than appearances in other references is it's making a "dual" with 我. This is common in 诗经, where this poem comes from.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-08-12. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

**The equivalent of `子` for women is also `子`.**

> 【清·張自烈·正字通】子部：女子亦稱子

Examples from Old Chinese texts:

> 【孟子·告子下】逾東家牆而摟其處子，則得妻，不摟，則不得妻，則將摟之乎？

* The Works of Mencius: "*Breaking into your landlord's house and harass the virgin girl gets you a wife; refrain from harassing and you don't get a wife. Does that mean you would do it?*"

> 【詩經·國風·周南·桃夭】桃之夭夭，灼灼其華；之子于歸，宜其室家!

* The Classic of Poetry: "*Forests are green and flowers are red; a girl is marrying, and she'll make her new family happy.*"

---

In ancient Chinese, `女` either meant "unmarried woman" or "you". The character for the latter usage became `汝`, but is still printed as `女` in many modern publications of ancient works.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: In addition, "女子" means women and children in Classical Chinese.  
> **username_7**: I also want to point that the difference between 汝(less formal) and 子(more formal) is formality, not gender  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-08-12. Score: 2

In general, it is 女.

There are books such as 女訓 (Advice for Women) and 烈女傳 (Biographies of Notable Women).

Also, 子 in 青青子衿 explicity referring to the `lady's lover` (where the whole sentence means her lover's green collar) , instead of referring to a `man`.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: 子 also means son, does that implies the lady's lover is a male?  
> **username_2**: Depends on it's usage.  For example, 女子 means girl but 兒子 means son  
> **username_0**: @username_3 yes, it implicitly means male. 子 here implicitly means 'you' (male). I am not so sure if a substitution with ' 女' works here.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-08-12. Score: 1

**Re:...if it is talking about a woman?**

> Seems like this would be 女.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @username_3 yes, it implicitly means male. 子 here implicitly means 'you' (male). I am not so sure if a substitution with ' 女' works here.  
> **username_4**: @username_0 - Sorry I don't follow your comment. It seems to be on the wrong post. But, unless I misunderstand your request, you are asking for the single character for a woman (not a male). If you need something different, please modify the original question for clarity.  

---

