Kanji: 雌 (Female)
The kanji 雌 means "female," specifically used to denote the female of an animal species or, in some contexts, to describe a passive or receiving role in nature. It is the direct antonym of 雄 (male).
Key Reading:
Kun-yomi (Japanese reading): めす (mesu)
On-yomi (Sino-Japanese reading): シ (shi)
Common Words & Usage:
雌 (mesu) - Noun. A female animal.
雌雄 (shiyū) - Noun. Male and female; the sexes. Also used to mean "victory or defeat."
雌花 (meshibana) - Noun. A female flower.
雌犬 (mesuinu) - Noun. A female dog, a bitch.
Example Sentence:
Japanese: その雌の鳥が卵を温めている。
Romaji: Sono mesu no tori ga tamago o atatamete iru.
English: That female bird is warming her eggs.
Learning the correct stroke order for kanji like 雌 is essential for balanced, legible Japanese handwriting and is a fundamental part of mastering kanji writing.