Why 好 (Like / Fond — Suki) Combines 女 (Woman) + 子 (Child): Mastering the 女 (Onna) Kanji Family
One of the most heartwarming etymologies in Japanese kanji is 好 (suki / konomu — to like or be fond of): it places 女 (Woman / Mother) right next to 子 (Child), capturing the natural affection between mother and child!
Look out for the #1 beginner trap: when 女 (Woman) and 子 (Child) stand as two separate characters side-by-side (女子 joshi), it means 'girl / women.' When squeezed together into ONE single character (好), it becomes 好き (suki — to like / love)!
Quick Comparison: 女 (Woman) vs. 好 (Like) vs. 娘 (Daughter) vs. 婦 (Lady)
Compare the five core 女 (Woman) family kanjis in the table below:
| Kanji & Meaning | Primary Readings (Bold = Primary) | Shibashi Visual Mnemonic Hook | Common Compound Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 女 — Woman | On: じょ, にょ Kun: おんな |
A graceful kneeling figure with crossed arms = WOMAN / FEMALE (onna / jo / nyo). | 女 (おんな) — woman |
| 好 — Like | On: こう Kun: す, この |
女 (Woman/Mother) on the left + 子 (Child) on the right = a mother holding her child = LIKE / FOND OF / FAVORITE (suki / konomu / kō). | 好む (このむ) — to like, to prefer |
| 娘 — Daughter | On: — Kun: むすめ |
女 (Woman) on the left + 良 (Good) on the right = a good young girl = DAUGHTER / YOUNG WOMAN (musume / jō). | 娘 (むすめ) — daughter, girl |
| 婦 — Lady | On: ふ Kun: — |
女 (Woman) on the left + 帚 (House broom) on the right = WIFE / LADY / BRIDE (fu, as in 主婦 shufu). | 主婦 (しゅふ) — housewife, homemaker |
| 婚 — Marriage | On: こん Kun: — |
女 (Woman) + 氏 (Family clan) + 日 (Day) = the day a woman joins a new family clan = MARRIAGE (kon, as in 結婚 kekkon). | 新婚 (しんこん) — newly married, newlyweds |
Side-by-Side Illustrated Kanji Flashcards (Tap Readings for Audio)
Compare the custom Shibashi artwork for 女 (Woman) and 好 (Like) below. Notice how each illustration embeds both the English meaning and the primary Japanese reading directly into the scene, and tap any reading to hear native pronunciation:
Step-by-Step Visual Breakdown & Radical Rules
See how 女 (onnahen) on the left unlocks each character's story:
1. 女 (Woman) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: じょ, にょ | Kun'yomi: おんな
Shibashi Visual Story: “On a (おんな) good day, new (にょ) baby, is the best job (じょ) a woman can have.” Key visual distinction: A graceful kneeling figure with crossed arms = WOMAN / FEMALE (onna / jo / nyo).
2. 好 (Like) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: こう | Kun'yomi: す, この
Shibashi Visual Story: “A soup (す ) connoisseur (この) in a fancy coat (こう), and a cute newborn... Which kid do you think mom likes more?” Key visual distinction: 女 (Woman/Mother) on the left + 子 (Child) on the right = a mother holding her child = LIKE / FOND OF / FAVORITE (suki / konomu / kō).
- 好む (このむ): to like, to prefer
- 好み (このみ): liking, taste, choice
- 好き (すき): liking, being fond of, to one's liking, to one's taste, preferred, favourite
3. 娘 (Daughter) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: — | Kun'yomi: むすめ
Shibashi Visual Story: “For some reason this mom likes to take her infant daughter and Mr. Daikon, to a moose(u) meadow (むすめ)...” Key visual distinction: 女 (Woman) on the left + 良 (Good) on the right = a good young girl = DAUGHTER / YOUNG WOMAN (musume / jō).
- 娘 (むすめ): daughter, girl
4. 婦 (Lady) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: ふ | Kun'yomi: —
Shibashi Visual Story: “Living in a grand house like this, the lady clearly does not lack food (ふ)...” Key visual distinction: 女 (Woman) on the left + 帚 (House broom) on the right = WIFE / LADY / BRIDE (fu, as in 主婦 shufu).
5. 婚 (Marriage) — Mnemonic Story & Readings
On'yomi: こん | Kun'yomi: —
Shibashi Visual Story: “In this unhappy marriage the woman controls (こん) everything...” Key visual distinction: 女 (Woman) + 氏 (Family clan) + 日 (Day) = the day a woman joins a new family clan = MARRIAGE (kon, as in 結婚 kekkon).
Essential Japanese Vocabulary Words Using 女 / 好 / 娘 / 婦
Once you can recognize 女 (Woman) and 好 (Like) and 娘 (Daughter) individually, lock them into your active reading vocabulary with these high-frequency Japanese words from the Shibashi app:
| Japanese Word | Hiragana Reading | English Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 女 | おんな | woman | JLPT |
| 彼女 | かのじょ | she, girlfriend | JLPT |
| 女王 | じょおう | queen | JLPT |
| 好む | このむ | to like, to prefer | JLPT |
| 好み | このみ | liking, taste, choice | JLPT |
| 好き | すき | liking, being fond of, to one's liking, to one's taste, preferred, favourite | JLPT |
| 娘 | むすめ | daughter, girl | JLPT |
| 主婦 | しゅふ | housewife, homemaker | JLPT |
5-Second Memory Summary: How to Never Mix Up 女 & 好 & 娘 Again
女 (Woman) + 子 (Child) = 好 (Like / Favorite — 好き suki, 大好き daisuki). 女 + 良 (Good) = 娘 (Daughter — むすめ musume). 女 + 帚 (Broom) = 婦 (Lady / Wife — 主婦 shufu). 女 + 氏 (Clan) + 日 (Day) = 婚 (Marriage — 結婚 kekkon)!
