Meaning
子 is one of the most versatile characters in Chinese. As a standalone word, it means 'child' or 'son' in classical contexts. More commonly in modern Mandarin, it functions as a diminutive or noun-forming suffix (like 桌子 'table', 椅子 'chair'). It can also mean 'seed' or refer to the first of the twelve Earthly Branches in the traditional calendar system.
Usage
In spoken Mandarin, 子 most frequently appears as a neutral-tone suffix (-zi) attached to nouns, especially concrete objects. When used alone to mean 'son', it's more literary; modern speakers typically say 儿子 (érzi). The suffix use is extremely common and natural in everyday speech, making many nouns sound more colloquial.
Examples
- 01这把椅子很舒服。.This chair is very comfortable.
- 02桌子上有一本书。.There is a book on the table.
Measure words
- 个一个孩子
Common collocations
- 桌子table
- 椅子chair
- 房子house
- 君子gentleman, man of virtue
Antonyms
Origin
The oracle bone script shows a picture of a baby with a large head and outstretched arms, clearly depicting a small child. Over time it evolved to represent 'child' generally and later became a productive suffix for forming nouns.