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孥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
one's childrenzg, 8 strokes, radical 子, Very Hard
childunknown, 8 strokes, radical 子, Very Hard
offspringunknown, 8 strokes, radical 子, Very Hard
(nu2) T2
  1. 1one's children
  2. 2child
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(nu2)

The character 孥 (nú) refers to one's children, offspring, or descendants. It is a more formal term often used in literary or historical contexts to denote lineage or familial relationships. While commonly used in written Chinese, it may not be as frequently heard in everyday conversations compared to simpler terms like '孩子' (háizi) for 'child.'

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of lineage and ancestry is significant, and terms like 孥 reflect the importance placed on family heritage and continuity. This character embodies the value of children and descendants in maintaining family honor and tradition.

Memory Tip

Imagine a family tree where the branches represent the parents (the radical '子' meaning 'child') and the leaves symbolize the children ('孥'). Visualize a nurturing scene where these leaves grow under the care of their branches, helping you remember 'nú' relates to offspring.

Meanings of 孥

(nu2)
1one's children
2child
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 孥

Simplified
8Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 孥

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AI Study Notes for 孥

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a family tree where the branches represent the parents (the radical '子' meaning 'child') and the leaves symbolize the children ('孥'). Visualize a nurturing scene where these leaves grow under the care of their branches, helping you remember 'nú' relates to offspring.

Usage Notes

It's important to use 孥 in contexts that require a more formal or literary tone, as it may sound overly formal in casual conversation. Avoid confusion with the more common term '孩子' (háizi); remember that 孥 specifically implies descendants or children in a lineage.

HSK Study Tips

Although 孥 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your grasp of familial terms at a higher level. Focus on how it connects with other family-related words, such as '父母' (parents) and '子女' (children), to build a richer vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of lineage and ancestry is significant, and terms like 孥 reflect the importance placed on family heritage and continuity. This character embodies the value of children and descendants in maintaining family honor and tradition.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 孥 with other terms like '孩子' (háizi) or use it in casual settings, leading to awkwardness. For example, saying '我有两个孥' (Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè nú) is incorrect; the correct term is '我有两个孩子' (Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè háizi).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 孥

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Etymology of 孥

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

son

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 孥?

Decomposition of 孥

IDS Structure⿱奴子
Full Character
=
nu2
top
zi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 孥?

Write 孥

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

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Cultural Notes for 孥

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of lineage and ancestry is significant, and terms like 孥 reflect the importance placed on family heritage and continuity. This character embodies the value of children and descendants in maintaining family honor and tradition.

Word Family of 孥

Words Containing This Character1
child
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 孥 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 孥

No, 孥 is more often found in written texts and formal contexts rather than in casual speech.