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小宝宝 (xiǎo bǎo bǎo) — baby; little darling (term of endearment)

Definition

Affectionate reduplicated form meaning 'baby / little darling', used as a term of endearment for infants or (playfully) for loved ones. More tender than the neutral 婴儿.

noun
babylittle darling (term of endearment)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 小宝宝。
    Nà ge xiǎo bǎo bǎo zhēn kě ài.
    That baby is really cute.
  • 小宝宝。
    Tā bào zhe xiǎo bǎo bǎo qīng qīng de chàng gē.
    She holds the baby and sings softly.
  • 小宝宝，。
    xiǎo bǎo bǎo Zài shuì jiào, bié chǎo xǐng tā.
    The baby is sleeping, don't wake him.

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.

小xiǎosmall
宝宝baby
宝bǎobaby宝bǎobaby
重叠Reduplication

小 adds a tender little sense, and 宝宝 conveys baby.

Characters in this word

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

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寶; 宝 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 琡琡chùjade
  • 貝貝bèicowry

The traditional form 寶 shows 宀 (house), 琡 (jade), and 貝 (cowry), drawn together as treasures in a house.

Open 宝 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寶; 宝 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 琡琡chùjade
  • 貝貝bèicowry

The traditional form 寶 shows 宀 (house), 琡 (jade), and 貝 (cowry), drawn together as treasures in a house.

Open 宝 →
Appears in
Family & KinshipLife Stages & Age

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