独子 (dú zǐ) — only son | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally "sole + child", used for a family's only son. Distinct from 独生子 (more common spoken form) and from 独生女 (only daughter).

noun

only son

Measure word · 个

独子，。
Tā shì jiā lǐ de dú zǐ, fù mǔ duì tā qī wàng hěn gāo.
He is the only son in the family, and his parents have high expectations for him.
独子，。
Zuò wéi dú zǐ, tā jiān fù zhe chuán zōng jiē dài de zé rèn.
As the only son, he bears the responsibility of carrying on the family line.
独子。
Hěn duō dú zǐ zài chéng zhǎng guò chéng zhōng huì gǎn dào gū dú.
Many only sons feel lonely as they grow up.

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.

独 (only) and 子 (son) together mean the sole male child.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獨; 独 is its simplified writing.

犭蜀獨

Meaning part形符xíngfú

犭Written in full as犬quǎn

Sound part声符shēngfú

蜀

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 獨 pairs 犬 (dog) with 蜀, which gives the sound; the simplified 独 is a shorthand.

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.

Appears in