Meaning
新生儿 refers to a baby in the first 28 days after birth. This is a medical and everyday term used in hospitals, childcare contexts, and general conversation about infants. It specifically designates the neonatal period when babies require special care and monitoring.
Usage
Commonly used in medical settings, parenting discussions, and official documents. Native speakers use this term when referring to very young infants, especially in contexts involving healthcare, birth certificates, or baby care products. It's more formal than casual terms like 小宝宝 (little baby) but commonly understood by all speakers.
Examples
- 01医院的新生儿科有专业的护士照顾每一个新生儿。.The hospital's neonatology department has professional nurses caring for every newborn.
- 02新生儿需要定期检查身体健康状况。.Newborns need regular checkups to monitor their health status.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个新生儿
- 名三名新生儿
Common collocations
- 新生儿护理newborn care
- 新生儿黄疸newborn jaundice
- 新生儿科neonatology department
- 新生儿筛查newborn screening
Origin
The term literally means 'newly born child,' combining 新 (new), 生 (born/life), and 儿 (child). It's a straightforward descriptive compound that has been used in Chinese medical and everyday language for generations.