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少儿 (shào ér) — children (collectively, often used as a modifier in contexts like children's books, programs, etc.)

Definition

少儿 is a formal/written collective term for children, almost always used as a modifier (少儿节目, 少儿书籍). It sounds more official than 孩子 or 小孩儿, and emphasizes the age group rather than family relationships.

noun
children (collectively, often used as a modifier in contexts like children's books, programs, etc.)

Examples

  • 少儿。
    Zhè ge jié mù zhuān mén wèi shào ér shè jì.
    This program is specially designed for children.
  • 少儿。
    shào ér Shū jí tōng cháng yǒu fēng fù de chā tú.
    Children's books usually have rich illustrations.
  • 少儿。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi guān zhù shào ér de shēn xīn jiàn kāng.
    We should pay attention to children's physical and mental health.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

少shǎoyoung people
儿érchildren

The word joins 少, young people, and 儿, children, to mean children as a group.

Characters in this word

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

The form 少 is drawn as four dots, perhaps three grains of sand, to indicate a few or a little.

Open 少 →

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

The shape 儿 is a simple drawing of a standing person, used as an alternate form of the character for person.

Open 儿 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Life Stages & AgePeople (General)

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