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崽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
崽zǎichild, servant; a diminutiven, 12 strokes, radical 山, rank #20072, Very Hard
崽zǎiyoung animalunknown, 12 strokes, radical 山, rank #20072, Very Hard
zǎi(zai3) T3
  1. 1child, servant; a diminutive
  2. 2young animal
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March 24, 2026

崽zǎi(zai3)

The character 崽 (zǎi) primarily means 'young animal' or 'offspring,' often used to refer to young versions of various creatures. It can also be used informally to describe a child or someone considered immature, capturing a sense of endearment or diminutiveness. In this context, it can imply someone who is not yet fully grown or developed.

Strokes12Radical山Frequency#20072DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In rural China, the term 崽 is often used affectionately for young animals that are part of farming or household life, reflecting the close relationship between people and animals in agrarian cultures.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small puppy (the 崽) climbing up a hill (the radical 土, meaning earth). The shape of the character 崽 looks like a little creature standing on the ground, helping you remember it means 'young animal' and sounds like 'zǎi', which could remind you of a 'tiny' creature.

Meanings of 崽

zǎi(zai3)
1child, servant; a diminutive
2young animal
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 崽

崽Simplified
12Strokes
山Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 崽

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Podcast: 崽

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AI Study Notes for 崽

Quick Contrast

幼崽 (yòuzǎi) refers specifically to 'young offspring' or 'cub' of animals, while 崽 (zǎi) can refer to young animals in a broader sense, including informal use for children.

Usage Notes

崽 is often used in informal contexts, particularly among friends or in familial settings. A common mistake is to confuse it with 子 (zǐ) which also means 'child' but is more formal. Be mindful of tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 崽 is not a part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to HSK Level 3 words like 小 (xiǎo, 'small') and 孩 (hái, 'child'). Focus on the diminutive nature of the word to understand its casual usage better.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 崽 with other similar characters like 子 (zǐ) or 孩 (hái). For example, saying '我有两个子' instead of '我有两个崽' when referring to young animals. The correct usage would be '我有两个崽' (I have two young animals).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 崽

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Etymology of 崽

Decomposition of 崽

IDS Structure⿱山思
崽Full Character
=
山Shan1
top
思si1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 崽?

How to say child, servant; a diminutive in Chinese

“child, servant; a diminutive” in Chinese is崽zǎi

The character 崽 (zǎi) primarily means 'young animal' or 'offspring,' often used to refer to young versions of various creatures. It can also be used informally to describe a child or someone considered immature, capturing a sense of endearment or diminutiveness. In this context, it can imply someone who is not yet fully grown or developed.

When to use 崽

崽 is often used in informal contexts, particularly among friends or in familial settings. A common mistake is to confuse it with 子 (zǐ) which also means 'child' but is more formal. Be mindful of tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

崽 or something close to it

幼崽 (yòuzǎi) refers specifically to 'young offspring' or 'cub' of animals, while 崽 (zǎi) can refer to young animals in a broader sense, including informal use for children.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 崽 with other similar characters like 子 (zǐ) or 孩 (hái). For example, saying '我有两个子' instead of '我有两个崽' when referring to young animals. The correct usage would be '我有两个崽' (I have two young animals).

Write 崽

崽

Practice writing 崽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 崽

崽 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

小狗____冲着我的脚腕子汪汪叫.

The little dogs were yapping at my ankles.

Example Sentences for 崽 (3)

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1
小狗崽冲着我的脚腕子汪汪叫.

xiǎo gǒu zǎi chōng zháo wǒ de jiǎo wàn zǐ wāng wāng jiào.

The little dogs were yapping at my ankles.
2
猫咬住幼崽的后颈把它叼了起来.

māo yǎo zhù yòu zǎi de hòu jǐng bǎ tā diāo le qǐ lái.

The cat picked up her kitten by the scruff of its neck.
3
我说这批兔崽子非得亲自出来称雄道霸,倒是个好现象.

wǒ shuō zhè pī tù zǎi zǐ fēi dé qīn zì chū lái chēng xióng dào bà, , dǎo shì gè hǎo xiàn.

I say it's a good sign when the bastards have to throw their weight about.

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Word Family of 崽

Words Containing This Character5
崽zǎichild
兔崽子brat
狗崽子(coll.) puppy
伢崽(dialect) child
烂崽rogue爛崽
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 崽

What does 兔崽子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 崽

Yes, 崽 can informally refer to young children, but it carries a more casual or affectionate tone.

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