卵

An ancient pictograph:

The character depicts a cluster of eggs or fish roe, often interpreted as two eggs bound together.

The small side stroke represents the attachment or membrane.

This makes 卵 one of the clearer examples of biological imagery in early Chinese writing.

The earliest meaning of 卵 was: “egg,” “fish roe,” “something from which life emerges.”

From this, secondary meanings developed, such as:

- reproduction

- nurturing life

- being born

Although 卵 primarily means egg, classical usage allowed broader meanings:

- life in an early stage

- offspring

- to give birth / nurture (rare, classical)

In modern usage, the meaning is almost exclusively biological.

난자 (卵子) — ovum

난소 (卵巢) — ovary

어란 (魚卵) — fish roe

산란 (産卵) — egg-laying

卵 symbolizes potential life, origin, and beginning.

In classical texts, it is sometimes used metaphorically for fragility or undeveloped states.

By extension, can imply “to breed” or “to hatch.”

The word 난(卵) in Korean scientific terms reflects its continued importance in biology and medicine.

𨳈 (U+28CC8)