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March 24, 2026
儿子(兒子)érzi(er2zi5)
儿子 (ér zi) means 'son' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to refer to one's male child. The term can also be used affectionately or in a familial context when discussing family relationships.
Frequency#321DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, having a son is traditionally viewed as important for carrying on the family lineage. This cultural value can influence family dynamics and expectations.
Memory Tip
Think of '儿' (ér) as a child with arms raised in joy, representing a young boy, and '子' (zi) as a small figure, hinting at a son in the family. Together, they form '儿子' (ér zi), a joyful image of a beloved son.
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AI Study Notes for 儿子
Quick Contrast
女儿 (nǚ'ér) - use 儿子 for male children, while 女儿 specifically refers to female children.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of '儿' (ér) as a child with arms raised in joy, representing a young boy, and '子' (zi) as a small figure, hinting at a son in the family. Together, they form '儿子' (ér zi), a joyful image of a beloved son.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse儿子 (ér zi) with 男孩 (nán hái), which means 'boy' and can refer to any male child. Always use 儿子 when specifically indicating one's son. This term is informal, so in formal settings, you might use '我的儿子' (wǒ de ér zi) for 'my son'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 儿子 connects to other family-related vocabulary like 女儿 (nǚ ér, daughter) and 妈妈 (mā ma, mother). Focus on pronunciation, especially the second tone of 儿 (ér) and the neutral tone of 子 (zi).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, having a son is traditionally viewed as important for carrying on the family lineage. This cultural value can influence family dynamics and expectations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often pronounce 儿子 incorrectly, misplacing the tones. For example, saying 'ér zǐ' instead of 'ér zi' can lead to confusion. Pay attention to the tones to ensure clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 儿子
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Grammar Patterns of 儿子
儿子 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Taking my son Peter to a restaurant was a nightmare.
Example Sentences for 儿子 (10)
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1
带我儿子彼得外出吃饭简直糟糕透了。
dài wǒ ér zǐ bǐ dé wài chū chī fàn jiǎn zhí zāo gāo tòu le。
Taking my son Peter to a restaurant was a nightmare.
2
我儿子遭受了巨大痛苦，他失去了最要好的朋友。
wǒ ér zǐ zāo shòu le jù dà tòng kǔ， ， tā shī qù le zuì yào hǎo de péng。
My son has suffered terribly. He has lost his best friend.
3
他一向不满意儿子的政治倾向。
tā yī xiàng bù mǎn yì ér zǐ de zhèng zhì qīng xiàng。
He has been unhappy with his son's political leanings.
4
她整夜都守在病重的儿子床边。
tā zhěng yè dū shǒu zài bìng zhòng de ér zǐ chuáng biān。
She kept vigil at the bedside of her critically ill son.
5
他儿子是个吸毒者，这孩子一年前吸食了过量毒品。
tā ér zǐ shì gè xī dú zhě， ， zhè hái zǐ yī nián qián xī shí le guò liáng dú。
His son was a junkie, the kid OD'd a year ago.
6
生我3个儿子时，我每次都出现产后大出血。
shēng wǒ3 3 gè ér zǐ， shí ， wǒ měi cì dū chū xiàn chǎn hòu dà。
I haemorrhaged badly after the birth of all three of my sons.
7
“你的几个儿子好么？”——“谢谢关心。”
“ “ nǐ de jī gè ér zǐ hǎo？”——“ mó ？”——“ xiè xiè。”
"How are your boys?" — "How nice of you to ask."
8
我的几个儿子从不指望别人帮他们熨好衣服。
wǒ de jī gè ér zǐ cóng bù zhǐ wàng bié rén bāng tā mén yùn hǎo yī fú。
My sons would never dream of expecting their clothes to be ironed.
9
约翰让人将莫德和她的儿子关进了地牢。
yuē hàn ràng rén jiāng mò dé hé tā de ér zǐ guān jìn le dì láo。
John had Maude and her son cast into a dungeon.
10
她那平时很害羞的儿子已经开始与人交往了。
tā nà píng shí hěn hài xiū de ér zǐ yǐ jīng kāi shǐ yǔ rén jiāo wǎng le。
Her normally shy son had come out of his shell.
Cultural Notes for 儿子
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, having a son is traditionally viewed as important for carrying on the family lineage. This cultural value can influence family dynamics and expectations.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In many Western cultures, the emphasis on having a son is less pronounced, with equal value placed on daughters and sons. This difference reflects varying cultural attitudes toward gender roles.
Frequently Asked Questions about 儿子
You say '我的儿子' (wǒ de ér zi).
儿子 is primarily informal; for formal contexts, you might add '我的' (wǒ de) before it.
The opposite is 女儿 (nǚ ér), which means 'daughter'.
