妓

A phono-semantic compound:

女 (woman) — semantic component, indicates a female role

支 (to support; branch) — phonetic component, supplies the pronunciation "jì"

In premodern East Asia, 妓 originally referred to female entertainers attached to courts, temples, or official institutions. These women were trained in:

- music

- singing

- dance

- poetry and conversation

The term did not originally imply prostitution.

Over time, especially in late imperial China, the meaning of 妓 gradually shifted in many contexts to include or imply sexual services, leading to the modern association with prostitution in some languages.

This semantic shift mirrors similar developments in other cultures (e.g., courtesan in European languages).

In Korean historical context, 기생 were state-registered artists, not merely sex workers.

기생 (妓生) — gisaeng; traditional Korean female entertainers

창기 (娼妓) — prostitute (explicitly negative term)

The character 妓 reflects a historical profession, not a single moral category. Its meaning varies sharply by time, region, and compound, ranging from respected artist to stigmatized sex worker.

Understanding 妓 therefore requires attention to historical context and compound usage, rather than relying on the character alone.

Related characters:

娼 — prostitute (explicitly sexual, derogatory)

伎 — performer; skill; actor (gender-neutral)

藝 — art; performance

舞 — dance