丫头 (yātou): girl

Measure Word

一个丫头 gè

Originally referred to the forked hairstyle worn by young girls

这个小丫头真可爱。

Zhège xiǎo yātou zhēn kě'ài.

This little girl is really cute.

我家丫头今年上大学了。

Wǒjiā yātou jīnnián shàng dàxué le.

My girl started university this year.

usage

In modern Chinese, 丫头 is an affectionate, informal term for a young girl or daughter. In classical Chinese, it referred to a maid or servant girl.

history

The character 丫 depicts a forked shape, referring to the two-bun hairstyle (丫髻) that young girls wore in ancient China.

丫 yā

头 tóu