Meanings of 婶
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Podcast: 婶
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AI study notes for 婶
姑 (gū, aunt by marriage to one's father) vs 嬸 (shěn, aunt by marriage to one's father's younger brother) — use 嬸 for the specific relationship to the younger brother.
婶 is a more formal term and is primarily used in familial discussions or contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with 妈 (mā, mother) or other family terms, as these can lead to misunderstandings about relationships. It's less common in everyday conversation compared to more general terms for aunt.
Though 婶 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your grasp of family-related terms. Focus on its structure and how it fits into discussions about family, as many HSK words relate to relationships and social structures.
Learners may confuse 婶 with other terms for aunt, such as 姨 (yí) or 阿姨 (āyí), which refer to different types of aunts. For example, saying '我爸爸的阿姨' (wǒ bàba de āyí) incorrectly implies a maternal relationship rather than a paternal one.
Pronunciation of 婶
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Etymology of 婶
Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 审 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嬸.
woman
Origin
婶 = 女 + 审. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 婶
Parts
Which of these is part of 婶?
How to say father's younger brother's wife in Chinese
“father's younger brother's wife” in Chinese is婶
The character 婶 (shěn) refers specifically to the wife of one's father's younger brother, commonly known as an aunt by marriage. This term is used in familial contexts to denote a specific relationship within the extended family, emphasizing the importance of kinship in Chinese culture.
When to use 婶
婶 is a more formal term and is primarily used in familial discussions or contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with 妈 (mā, mother) or other family terms, as these can lead to misunderstandings about relationships. It's less common in everyday conversation compared to more general terms for aunt.
婶 or something close to it
姑 (gū, aunt by marriage to one's father) vs 嬸 (shěn, aunt by marriage to one's father's younger brother) — use 嬸 for the specific relationship to the younger brother.
What learners get wrong
Learners may confuse 婶 with other terms for aunt, such as 姨 (yí) or 阿姨 (āyí), which refer to different types of aunts. For example, saying '我爸爸的阿姨' (wǒ bàba de āyí) incorrectly implies a maternal relationship rather than a paternal one.
Write 婶
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Grammar patterns of 婶
婶 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我们由____子陪着。
We were chaperoned by our aunt.
Example sentences for 婶 (1)
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Word Family of 婶
Words with 婶
What does 婶婶 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 婶
You can say '我叔叔的婶婶很友好' (My uncle's wife is very kind) to demonstrate the relationship.
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