infant, baby

嬰 is composed of 賏 (necklace) and 女 (woman). 賏 depicts two shells strung together as a necklace, so 嬰 is the picture of a woman wearing a necklace. The original meaning of 嬰 is tie or wear, but such meanings have been represented by 纓, now 嬰 means infant or baby. Woman loves her newborn child like a precious necklace.