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儿子 (ér zi) — son

Definition

Family word for one's male child. Pairs naturally with 女儿 (daughter); the formal/literary 子 on its own means 'son' in compounds like 父子 (father and son).

noun
son
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 儿子。
    Tā de ér zi shì xué shēng.
    His son is a student.
  • 儿子。
    Wǒ de ér zi zài jiā.
    My son is at home.
  • 儿子。
    Wǒ ér zi ài dú shū.
    My son likes reading.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

儿érson
子zǐ

儿 means son, and 子 rounds out the everyday word for son.

Characters in this word

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 →

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
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