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March 24, 2026
孩子háizi(hai2zi5)
The word 孩子 (hái zi) means 'child' in Mandarin and is commonly used to refer to young people, typically those who are not yet adults. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile in everyday conversation, especially when discussing family or education.
Frequency#116DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 孩子 is highly valued, with a strong emphasis on education and family. The role of children is often seen as not just individual but as part of a larger family unit, reflecting traditional values.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small child (孩子) playing on a sunny day. The first character 孩 (hái) looks like a child with a head (the top part) and legs (the bottom part) running around. The second character 子 (zi) represents a 'son' or 'offspring,' reinforcing the idea of a young person.
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AI Study Notes for 孩子
Quick Contrast
儿童 (értóng) - use 孩子 (hái zi) for a more casual or familial context, while 儿童 (értóng) is often used in formal settings or official documents.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a small child (孩子) playing on a sunny day. The first character 孩 (hái) looks like a child with a head (the top part) and legs (the bottom part) running around. The second character 子 (zi) represents a 'son' or 'offspring,' reinforcing the idea of a young person.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 孩子 (hái zi) with 青少年 (qīng shào nián), which refers to teenagers. While 孩子 is informal and could be used among friends, in formal writing, you might want to use 儿童 (ér tóng) instead. Pay attention to the tones; incorrect pronunciation can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 孩子 connects well with other basic vocabulary related to family, education, and daily life. Students should focus on using this word in various sentences, especially in discussing family members or activities involving children.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 孩子 is highly valued, with a strong emphasis on education and family. The role of children is often seen as not just individual but as part of a larger family unit, reflecting traditional values.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 孩子 as a formal term for children when writing essays or reports; instead, 儿童 should be used in such contexts. Additionally, some may confuse 孩子 with other family-related terms, like 孙子 (sūn zi, grandson), which refers specifically to a male grandchild.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 孩子
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Grammar Patterns of 孩子
孩子 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.
tā jì rán zhǔ dòng tí chū bāng zhù zhào kàn hái zǐ， ， wǒ yě jiù tóng yì。
Since she'd offered to babysit, I took her up on it.
2
养育孩子的现实经常与浪漫的理想大相径庭。
yǎng yù hái zǐ de xiàn shí jīng cháng yǔ làng màn de lǐ xiǎng dà xiāng jìng tíng。
The reality of mothering is frequently very different from the romantic ideal.
3
学校对你的孩子负有法律上的安全责任。
xué xiào duì nǐ de hái zǐ fù yǒu fǎ lǜ shàng de ān quán zé rèn。
The school is legally responsible for your child's safety.
4
生孩子是使自己不再年轻时尚的最快方法。
shēng hái zǐ shì shǐ zì jǐ bù zài nián qīng shí shàng de zuì kuài fāng fǎ。
Having children was the quickest way to lose your street cred.
5
他们将孩子培养成了虔诚的基督教徒。
tā mén jiāng hái zǐ péi yǎng chéng le qián chéng de jī dū jiào tú。
They brought up their children to be God-fearing Christians.
6
我永远忘不了你为这些小孩子所做的一切。
wǒ yǒng yuǎn wàng bù le nǐ wéi zhè xiē xiǎo hái zǐ suǒ zuò de yī qiē。
I'm not ever going to forget what you've done for the nippers.
7
她十分疼爱自己的孩子，几乎到了溺爱的程度。
tā shí fēn téng ài zì jǐ de hái zǐ， ， jī hū dào le nì ài de chéng。
She loved her own children, almost smothering them with love.
8
孩子们调皮捣蛋的时候她管不了。
hái zǐ mén tiáo pí dǎo dàn de shí hòu tā guǎn bù le。
When the children misbehaved she was unable to cope.
9
小孩子识字的速度不同，这不足为奇。
xiǎo hái zǐ shí zì de sù dù bù tóng， ， zhè bù zú wéi。
It is not surprising that children learn to read at different rates.
10
这实质上是一种狭隘的、因循守旧的照顾孩子的方法。
zhè shí zhì shàng shì yī zhǒng xiá ài de、 、 yīn xún shǒu jiù de zhào gù hái zǐ de fāng。
It is essentially a narrow and conservative approach to child care.
Cultural Notes for 孩子
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 孩子 is highly valued, with a strong emphasis on education and family. The role of children is often seen as not just individual but as part of a larger family unit, reflecting traditional values.
Frequently Asked Questions about 孩子
Yes, 孩子 is a gender-neutral term that can refer to any child, regardless of gender.
While 孩子 is widely understood, in more formal contexts, 儿童 (ér tóng) is preferred.
In Mandarin, you can use 孩子们 (hái zi men) to indicate 'children' in plural form.
