noun HSK 1
Traditional 兒子
son
Meaning
儿子 is the common word for 'son' in Mandarin Chinese. It refers to a male child in relation to his parents. This is one of the most basic family relationship terms and is used in both formal and informal contexts.
Usage
This is the standard, neutral term for 'son' used in all contexts. When introducing family members, Chinese speakers commonly say '我儿子' (my son). Note that 子 (zǐ) alone can mean 'child' in classical Chinese, but in modern spoken Mandarin, 儿子 is always used for 'son.'
Examples
- 01我有两个儿子和一个女儿。.I have two sons and one daughter.
- 02他儿子今年上大学了。.His son started university this year.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个儿子
Common collocations
- 亲生儿子biological son
- 独生儿子only son
- 养儿子to raise a son
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters originally meant 'child' or 'son' in ancient Chinese. The combination 儿子 emerged in vernacular Chinese to clearly distinguish 'son' from other uses of these characters. 子 was the classical term for 'son,' while 儿 was more colloquial.