次子 (cì zǐ) — second son

Definition

Literary/formal term for the second-born son in a family, contrasted with 长子 (eldest son). Used mostly in historical, classical, or formal writing rather than everyday speech.

noun
second son
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 次子。
    Tā de cì zǐ xiàn zài yǐ jīng jiē guǎn le jiā zú shēng yì.
    His second son has now taken over the family business.
  • ，次子。
    Zài gǔ dài, cì zǐ de dì wèi wǎng wǎng bù rú zhǎng zǐ.
    In ancient times, the second son's status was often not as good as the eldest son's.
  • ，次子。
    Zhè wèi jiāng jūn yǒu wǔ gè hái zi, cì zǐ shì zuì shàn zhàn de.
    This general has five children, and the second son is the most skilled in battle.

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.

次cìsecond
子zǐson

“次” marks the second place in a sequence and “子” means son, giving second son.

Characters in this word

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

The old form of 次 shows a person exhaling, with the marks above the figure representing breath.

Open 次 →

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 →

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