雌
めす
female (of an animal); she-
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
カンガルーの雌は子供を腹の袋に入れて動く。
かんがるーのめすはこどもをはらのふくろにいれてうごく。
A female kangaroo carries its young in its pouch.
この犬は雌ですか、雄ですか。
このいぬはめすですか、おすですか。
Is this dog female or male?
雌のライオンが群れの狩りを担う。
めすのらいおんがむれのかりをになう。
The lionesses do the hunting for the pride.
Common patterns
- 雌の犬
- a female dog
- 雌雄
- male and female; the sexes
- 雌花
- female flower
Memory tip
雌 is for animals and plants only — calling a person 雌 is crude and insulting; use 女性. In compounds it switches to し (雌雄, 雌伏) or め (雌花, 雌鳥).
Kanji in this word
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What does 雌 mean?