儿子
Traditional: 兒子
ér zi HSK 1

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我儿子很好。
Wǒ érzi hěn hǎo.
My son is very good.
他有儿子。
Tā yǒu érzi.
He has a son.
儿子在饭店。
Érzi zài fàndiàn.
The son is at the restaurant.
我儿子五岁了。
Wǒ érzi wǔ suì le.
My son is five years old.
他们有一个年幼的儿子。
Tāmen yǒu yīgè niányòu de érzi.
They have a young son.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the character 儿 (ér), which by itself can mean 'child' or 'son', and the common suffix 子 (zi) that often makes nouns. Together, they reinforce the meaning of 'son' as a specific type of child.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in register and is used in both formal and informal contexts, spoken and written. It is commonly used in everyday conversation, family discussions, and official documents (like household registrations) to denote the relationship.

📖 Grammar Points

It is typically used with a possessive pronoun (e.g., 我的儿子, 'my son') or as a subject/object in a sentence. It can be modified by adjectives like 大 (dà, 'eldest') or 小 (xiǎo, 'younger').

🏯 Cultural Notes

In traditional Chinese culture, sons were historically emphasized for carrying on the family name and providing support in old age, though this is changing in modern society. The term itself is neutral and widely used without strong cultural baggage today.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 孩子 (háizi, meaning 'child' in a gender-neutral sense), 儿子 specifically indicates a male child. 子女 (zǐnǚ) is a more formal term meaning 'sons and daughters' or 'children' collectively.

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