Meanings of 甥
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Podcast: 甥
Podcast: 甥
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AI study notes for 甥
侄 (zhí) - use 甥 (shēng) for a sibling's child, while 侄 (zhí) refers specifically to a brother's child.
Use 甥 primarily in familial contexts when discussing relationships with your sister's children. Be careful not to confuse it with other terms for niece or nephew that refer to the children of brothers, as this character is specific to sisters. The tone is important; ensure you pronounce it with the first tone (shēng) to convey the correct meaning.
While 甥 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK level vocabulary related to family and relationships. Students should focus on understanding familial terms and how they interact, especially in conversations about family structures.
Learners often confuse 甥 with 侄子 (zhízi), which refers to a nephew from a brother. A common mistake is saying '我的甥子是我的兄弟的孩子' (Wǒ de shēngzi shì wǒ de xiōngdì de háizi), which means 'My nephew is my brother's child,' instead of using 侄子.
Pronunciation of 甥
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Etymology of 甥
Phonosemantic compound. 男 represents the meaning and 生 represents the sound.
boy
Origin
甥 = 男 + 生. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 甥
Parts
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How to say niece, nephew; sister's child in Chinese
“niece, nephew; sister's child” in Chinese is甥
The character 甥 (shēng) refers specifically to a nephew or niece, particularly the child of one's sister. It is commonly used in familial contexts to describe relationships within a family, particularly when discussing siblings and their offspring.
When to use 甥
Use 甥 primarily in familial contexts when discussing relationships with your sister's children. Be careful not to confuse it with other terms for niece or nephew that refer to the children of brothers, as this character is specific to sisters. The tone is important; ensure you pronounce it with the first tone (shēng) to convey the correct meaning.
甥 or something close to it
侄 (zhí) - use 甥 (shēng) for a sibling's child, while 侄 (zhí) refers specifically to a brother's child.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 甥 with 侄子 (zhízi), which refers to a nephew from a brother. A common mistake is saying '我的甥子是我的兄弟的孩子' (Wǒ de shēngzi shì wǒ de xiōngdì de háizi), which means 'My nephew is my brother's child,' instead of using 侄子.
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Word Family of 甥
Words with 甥
What does 外甥 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 甥
You can say, '我有一个甥子' (Wǒ yǒu yīgè shēngzi), meaning 'I have a nephew.'
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