童年 (tóng nián) — childhood

Definition

童年 means the whole period of being a child. Compare 小时候, which marks a specific time 'when (you were) young'; 童年 is more like 'childhood' as a life stage, closer in feel to 儿童 but as an era rather than individual kids.

noun
childhood

Examples

  • 童年
    Wǒ jīng cháng xiǎng qǐ wǒ de tóng nián.
    I often think of my childhood.
  • 童年
    Tā de tóng nián zài nóng cūn dù guò.
    His childhood was spent in the countryside.
  • 童年
    tóng nián De shí guāng zǒng shì hěn měi hǎo.
    Childhood times are always wonderful.

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