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独生子 (dú shēng zǐ) — only son

Definition

独生子 refers specifically to a family's only son — a male child with no siblings. Contrast with 独生子女, the broader demographic term meaning 'single child' (either sex).

noun
only son
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 独生子。
    Tā men jiā zhǐ yǒu yí gè dú shēng zǐ.
    Their family has only one only son.
  • 独生子，。
    Tā shì jiā lǐ de dú shēng zǐ, cóng xiǎo bèi chǒng huài le.
    He is the only son in the family and has been spoiled since childhood.
  • 独生子，。
    Zuò wéi dú shēng zǐ, tā chéng dān zhe hěn dà de yā lì.
    As an only son, he bears a lot of pressure.

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.

独生only-born
独dúonly生shēngborn
偏正Modifier + head
子zǐson

独 only and 生 born form 独生, which describes 子 as a son.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ獨dú
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.

Open 独 →

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

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
Family & Kinship

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