HSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 立, rank #4220, Hard
童
tóng
child
HSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 立, rank #4220, Hard
童
tóng
child, boy; servant boy; virgin
HSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 立, rank #4220, Hard
tóng(Tong2) T2
1child
2child, boy; servant boy; virgin
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March 24, 2026
童tóng(Tong2)
The character 童 (tóng) primarily means 'child' or 'boy' and can also refer to a young servant or a virgin. It is commonly used in contexts related to childhood, education, and youth, emphasizing innocence and playfulness.
Strokes12Radical立Frequency#4220DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, childhood is often idealized, with stories and art celebrating the innocence and creativity of children. The character 童 is frequently found in literature and children's songs, reflecting the importance of youth in society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a child (童) playing joyfully in a field. The character has a 'child' radical (子) at the bottom, symbolizing youth, while the top part resembles a roof, suggesting a safe place for a child. Think of the pronunciation 'tóng' as 'toddler' to reinforce the connection.
Meanings of 童
tóng(Tong2)
1child
2child, boy; servant boy; virgin
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 童
童Simplified
12Strokes
立Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#4220Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4
Podcast: 童
Podcast: 童
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AI Study Notes for 童
Quick Contrast
孩 (hái) — use 童 (tóng) when emphasizing youth or innocence, while 孩 (hái) is more general for 'child'.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a child (童) playing joyfully in a field. The character has a 'child' radical (子) at the bottom, symbolizing youth, while the top part resembles a roof, suggesting a safe place for a child. Think of the pronunciation 'tóng' as 'toddler' to reinforce the connection.
Usage Notes
Avoid confusing 童 with similar characters like 儿 (ér), which also relates to children but emphasizes a different aspect. This character is often used in informal contexts, so be mindful of the setting when using it. Common collocations include 童年 (tóngnián - childhood) and 童话 (tónghuà - fairy tale).
HSK Study Tips
While 童 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to basic words about family and children, such as 家 (jiā - family) and 小 (xiǎo - small). Focus on its usage in phrases that describe childhood experiences to solidify understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, childhood is often idealized, with stories and art celebrating the innocence and creativity of children. The character 童 is frequently found in literature and children's songs, reflecting the importance of youth in society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 童 with the character 子 (zǐ), thinking they are interchangeable, but 子 is more general for 'child' and can refer to both genders. Correct usage would be: 童话 (tónghuà - fairy tale) instead of using 子话.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 童
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Phonosemantic compound. 辛 represents the meaning and 重 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "young servant boy". The meaning later shifted to "child".
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Grammar Patterns of 童
童 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 3 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 4
Complete the Sentence
纪律的目的是教育儿____举止得体。
The aim of discipline is to teach children to behave acceptably.
Common Confusions with 童
童vs懂
dǒng
Similar pronunciation and shape, but different meanings.
童vs桶
tǒng
Similar pronunciation but different meanings and shapes.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "child"?
or
Example Sentences for 童 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
纪律的目的是教育儿童举止得体。
jì lǜ de mù de shì jiào yù ér tóng jǔ zhǐ dé tǐ。
The aim of discipline is to teach children to behave acceptably.
2
这位精神病学家将她的一些问题成功地追溯到她童年时代遭受的严重创伤。
zhè wèi jīng shén bìng xué jiā jiāng tā de yī xiē wèn tí chéng gōng dì zhuī sù dào tā tóng nián shí dài zāo shòu de yán zhòng chuàng shāng。
The psychiatrist successfully traced some of her problems to severe childhood traumas.
3
儿童汽车坐椅一周的租金才10英镑。
ér tóng qì chē zuò yǐ yī zhōu de zū jīn cái10 10 yīng。
Child car seats only cost about £10 a week to hire.
4
在诺丁汉我经历了自己在童话剧演出中最尴尬的时刻之一。
zài nuò dīng hàn wǒ jīng lì le zì jǐ zài tóng huà jù yǎn chū zhōng zuì gān gà de shí kè zhī yī。
I had one of my most embarrassing moments in panto in Nottingham.
More than a third of all pedestrian injuries are to children.
7
她是个神童，十来岁不到就举办音乐会了。
tā shì gè shén tóng， ， shí lái suì bù dào jiù jǔ bàn yīn lè huì。
She was a child prodigy, giving concerts before she was a teenager.
8
3个坐在我附近的学童突然偷偷地笑了起来。
3 3 gè zuò zài wǒ fù jìn de xué tóng tū rán tōu tōu dì xiào le qǐ。
Suddenly, three schoolkids sitting near me started sniggering.
9
大多数口吃的儿童长大以后就好了。
dà duō shù kǒu chī de ér tóng cháng dà yǐ hòu jiù hǎo le。
Most children who stammer grow out of it.
10
儿童天生好表现自己。
ér tóng tiān shēng hǎo biǎo xiàn zì jǐ。
Children are natural exhibitionists.
Cultural Notes for 童
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, the character 童 symbolizes youth and innocence. Children are often seen as symbols of hope and the future, and festivals celebrating children, like Children's Day, are widely observed.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, childhood is often idealized, with stories and art celebrating the innocence and creativity of children. The character 童 is frequently found in literature and children's songs, reflecting the importance of youth in society.
Word Family of 童
Compounds24
撞zhuang4to hit
幢chuang2banner
瞳tong2the pupil of the eye
憧chong1indecisive, irresolute; to yearn for
僮tong2page, servant boy
噇
曈
朣
潼tong2high, lofty; a mountain pass
獞
疃tuan3hamlet; area near a city
穜
罿
艟chong1ancient warship
勭
墥
徸
橦
燑
犝
膧
蕫
蹱
鐘zhong1clock; bell
Words Containing This Character20
儿童értóngchild兒童
童tóngchild
童年tóngniánchildhood
童话tónghuàchildren's fairy tales童話
童子军child soldiers童子軍
孩童child
女童small girl
神童child prodigy
童子boy
男童boy
幼童young child
童装children's clothing童裝
童心childish heart
童真naivete
顽童urchin頑童
童工child labor
童谣nursery rhyme童謠
童贞virginity童貞
童星child star
河童Kappa, a child-size humanoid water creature in Japanese folklore
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 撞 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 童
Yes, 童 (Tóng) is recognized as a Chinese surname, although it is less common than many others. It can also be found in different regions, reflecting the diversity of Chinese surnames.
Phrases like '童年' (tóngnián), meaning 'childhood,' or '童话' (tónghuà), meaning 'fairy tale,' are common. These phrases highlight the character's association with youth and innocence.
童 (tóng) primarily means 'child' or 'boy' in Chinese. It can also refer to a servant boy or a virgin in certain contexts. The character is commonly used in expressions related to childhood or youth.
You can use 童 (tóng) in sentences like '他是一个快乐的童孩' (Tā shì yīgè kuàilè de tónghái), which means 'He is a happy child.' It’s important to use it in contexts that pertain to youth or childhood.
童 specifically refers to children or boys, often with a connotation of innocence, while 小 is a general term for 'small' or 'young' and can describe anything that is diminutive.
童 generally refers to boys, but it can also be used in a broader sense to refer to children of any gender, especially in compound words.
童 is more common in informal contexts; in formal writing, you might encounter terms like 儿童 (értóng) when referring to children.
