Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
侄子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
侄子zhízibrother's sonHSK 6, n, rank #4240, Hard
侄子zhízinephewHSK 6, n, rank #4240, Hard
zhízi(zhi2zi5) T2
  1. 1brother's son
  2. 2nephew
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
侄子(姪子)zhízi(zhi2zi5)

侄子 refers to the son of one's brother, commonly known as a nephew. This term is used in both formal and informal contexts, typically when discussing family relations or when introducing someone in a familial setting.

Frequency#4240DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, family relationships are highly valued, and terms like 侄子 emphasize the importance of extended family ties. Knowing how to refer to your nephew can facilitate family gatherings and improve social interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'brother' (the left radical, 兄) who has a 'son' (子) that you call your 'nephew' (侄子). Picture this brother's son playing with a toy that symbolizes family connections, helping you remember that 侄子 is all about that special family tie.

Meanings of 侄子

zhízi(zhi2zi5)
1brother's son
2nephew
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 侄子

侄子Simplified
姪子Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4240Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 侄子

JasonAmy

Podcast: 侄子

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 侄子

Quick Contrast

侄子 (nephew) vs 外甥 (nephew, sister's son) — use 侄子 when referring to a brother's son, not a sister's.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'brother' (the left radical, 兄) who has a 'son' (子) that you call your 'nephew' (侄子). Picture this brother's son playing with a toy that symbolizes family connections, helping you remember that 侄子 is all about that special family tie.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 侄子 with 侄女, which refers to a niece. This term is used in both formal and informal situations, but it's always good to be clear about family relationships when using it. Pay attention to the tones; mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 侄子 connects with other family-related vocabulary such as 兄弟 (brothers) and 姐妹 (sisters). Students should focus on mastering the usage of family terms to describe relationships accurately in conversations.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, family relationships are highly valued, and terms like 侄子 emphasize the importance of extended family ties. Knowing how to refer to your nephew can facilitate family gatherings and improve social interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 侄子 with 侄女 or 外甥, leading to incorrect relationships being described. For example, saying '我的侄女' (my nephew) is incorrect; it should be '我的侄子' for nephew and '我的侄女' for niece.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 侄子

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 侄子 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

zhínephew by the male line
8 strokes
View full entry
zison
HSK 33 strokes
View full entry

Write 侄子

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 侄子

侄子 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). 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 2

Complete the Sentence

“把她从你的遗嘱中删去,”他的____催促道。

"Cut her out of your will," urged his nephew.

Example Sentences for 侄子 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“把她从你的遗嘱中删去,”他的侄子催促道。

“ “ bǎ tā cóng nǐ de yí zhǔ zhōng shān,” qù ,” tā de zhí zǐ cuī。

"Cut her out of your will," urged his nephew.
2
今年所有的苹果都红了。我侄女和侄子今天早晨准备带上梯子去摘一些。

jīn nián suǒ yǒu de píng guǒ dū hóng le。 。 wǒ zhí nǚ hé zhí zǐ jīn tiān zǎo chén zhǔn bèi dài shàng tī zǐ qù zhāi yī。

This year all the apples are all red. My niece and nephew are going out this morning with step-ladders to pick some.

Cultural Notes for 侄子

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, family relationships are highly valued, and terms like 侄子 emphasize the importance of extended family ties. Knowing how to refer to your nephew can facilitate family gatherings and improve social interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions about 侄子

The word for 'niece' is 侄女 (zhí nǚ).