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子孙 (zǐ sūn) — offspring; posterity; descendants

Definition

Collective noun for descendants across many generations (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.). Unlike 子女 (just children) or 后代 (more neutral/factual), 子孙 emphasizes lineage continuity.

noun
offspringposteritydescendants

Examples

  • 子孙。
    Zǔ xiān liú xià de yí chǎn yīng gāi yóu zǐ sūn jì chéng.
    The legacy left by ancestors should be inherited by their descendants.
  • 子孙，。
    Wèi le zǐ sūn de wèi lái, wǒ men bì xū bǎo hù huán jìng.
    For the future of our posterity, we must protect the environment.
  • ，子孙。
    Jiā zú xīng wàng, zǐ sūn mǎn táng.
    The family prospers, and the hall is full of offspring.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

子zǐson
孙sūngrandson

子 and 孙 name sons and grandsons, together meaning descendants.

Characters in this word

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 孫; 孙 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 孫 pairs 子 (son) with 系 (continue), showing a line of descendants continuing. The simplified 孙 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 孙 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Family & Kinship

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