Meanings of 儿女
By ear
Play it, then pick what 儿女 means.
About 儿女
Podcast: 儿女
Podcast: 儿女
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 儿女
儿子 (érzi) refers specifically to a son, while 女儿 (nǚ'ér) refers specifically to a daughter; 儿女 encompasses both sons and daughters.
Be careful not to confuse 儿女 with just 儿 (ér), which means 'son' or 'child' in a more general sense. This term is informal and is commonly used in daily conversation. Common collocations include '有儿女' (have children) and '儿女情长' (deep affection for one's children).
While 儿女 is not a specific HSK level word, it can be useful for learners at HSK 3 and above, as it relates to family vocabulary. Students should focus on using this term in sentences about family and personal relationships.
Learners often mistakenly use 儿女 to refer to children in a general sense without specifying gender, which can lead to confusion. Instead, use 孩子 for a gender-neutral term. An incorrect example is '我有三个儿女' when referring to a mixed-gender group and not emphasizing the sons and daughters specifically.
Pronunciation of 儿女
Drill the tone of 儿女 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason Explains 儿女 to You
Let me explain 儿女 for you
Make it yours
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 儿女 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 儿女?
Learning Lab
Knowing 儿女 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
- MeaningFree
- CharacterFree
- PinyinFree
- TonePro
- ListeningPro
- SpeakingPro
- WritingPro
Component Characters
How to say children in Chinese
“children” in Chinese is儿女
儿女 (ér nǚ) refers to children, specifically sons and daughters. This term is commonly used in familial contexts when discussing one's offspring, emphasizing both male and female children collectively.
When to use 儿女
Be careful not to confuse 儿女 with just 儿 (ér), which means 'son' or 'child' in a more general sense. This term is informal and is commonly used in daily conversation. Common collocations include '有儿女' (have children) and '儿女情长' (deep affection for one's children).
儿女 or something close to it
儿子 (érzi) refers specifically to a son, while 女儿 (nǚ'ér) refers specifically to a daughter; 儿女 encompasses both sons and daughters.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 儿女 to refer to children in a general sense without specifying gender, which can lead to confusion. Instead, use 孩子 for a gender-neutral term. An incorrect example is '我有三个儿女' when referring to a mixed-gender group and not emphasizing the sons and daughters specifically.
Write 儿女
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 儿女 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 儿女?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 儿女
In Chinese culture, the terms '儿女' encompass both sons and daughters, reflecting the traditional importance of family and lineage. Family is considered the cornerstone of Chinese society.
There's a saying: '儿女情长', which means 'the love for children is profound'. This highlights the deep emotional connection parents have with their children.
Frequently Asked Questions about 儿女
儿女 and 孩子 both refer to children, but they are not completely interchangeable. 儿女 specifically emphasizes sons and daughters, while 孩子 (hái zi) is a more general term for children. In casual conversation, you might hear either, but context will determine the best choice.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 儿女?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.