slave

奴 is composed of 女 (woman) and 又 (also). It forms an ideogram representing the capture and control of a woman by hand. In ancient times, after a war, captured women were deprived of their freedom and forced to serve as servants; thus, the original meaning of 奴 referred to a captured woman. Later, it broadened to refer to anyone who has lost their freedom and is subjected to forced servitude, regardless of gender.