干娘

Traditional form:

乾娘

Pinyin (reading):

gānniáng

Definitions:

• adoptive mother (traditional adoption, i.e. without legal ramifications)

Characters:

• 干 - arid, dry; to oppose; to offend; to invade
• 娘 - mother; young girl; woman; wife

Traditional characters:

• 乾 - arid, dry; to fertilize; to penetrate; heavenly generative principle (male)
• 娘 - mother; young girl; woman; wife