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太子 (tài zǐ) — crown prince

Definition

太子 (tàizǐ) is the heir to the throne: the emperor's designated eldest or chosen son. It refers specifically to the next emperor, not a prince in general.

noun
crown prince
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 太子。
    tài zǐ Shì huáng dì de dì yī gè ér zi.
    The crown prince is the emperor's first son.
  • ，太子。
    Lì shǐ shàng, tài zǐ yào xué xí rú hé guǎn lǐ guó jiā.
    Historically, the crown prince had to learn how to govern the country.
  • 太子。
    Zhè bù diàn shì jù jiǎng de shì tài zǐ de gù shi.
    This TV drama tells the story of the crown prince.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

太tàihighest
子zǐson

The 太 highest 子 son forms the crown prince.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

太 is a modified form of 大, with an extra dot added to show 'too big'.

Open 太 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Identity & TitlesHistory

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