姨

A phono-semantic compound:

女 (녀) — semantic component, indicating female kinship

夷 (이) — phonetic component, supplying the sound (이 / yí)

The character designates a female relative on the mother’s side, distinguished from paternal aunts.

Semantic development:

- female kinship — mother’s sister

- maternal role — woman related through the mother

- secondary maternal status — concubine or non-primary mother (classical)

In Korean, 姨 appears mainly in kinship compounds and formal writing; everyday speech uses the native word 이모.

Common compounds:

이모 (姨母) — maternal aunt

이모부 (姨夫) — maternal aunt’s husband

이질 (姨姪) — sister’s child (maternal line, classical)

In some classical contexts, 姨 could refer to a woman who acts in a maternal capacity without being the principal wife.

Unlike 姑 (paternal aunt), 姨 strictly marks the maternal line.

Related characters (family & kinship):

母 — mother

姑 — paternal aunt

舅 — maternal uncle

叔 / 伯 — paternal uncles

嬸 — aunt by marriage