Definition
童年 (tóng nián) is a noun meaning 'childhood' — the period of life when you are a child. It contrasts with 小时候 (xiǎo shíhou), which is a more general, spoken term for 'when one was young' (not necessarily the whole period). 童年 is neutral in register and used in both speech and writing.
noun
childhood
Examples
- 童年。Wǒ jīngcháng xiǎng qǐ wǒ de tóng nián.I often think of my childhood.
- 童年。Tā de tóng nián zài nóngcūn dùguò.His childhood was spent in the countryside.
- 童年。tóng nián de shíguāng zǒngshì hěn měihǎo.Childhood times are always wonderful.
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