Meanings of 侄
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About 侄
Podcast: 侄
Podcast: 侄
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AI Study Notes for 侄
侄 (nephew) vs 外甥 (nephew, specifically the son of one's sister) — use 侄 when referring to a brother's son.
A common mistake is to confuse 侄 with 姪 (zhí), as both refer to nephews but may have different usages in various regions. This term is more formal, so in casual conversations, you might use '小侄' (xiǎo zhí) to refer to a younger nephew. Always pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
While 侄 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 words related to family, such as 家 (jiā, family) and 兄弟 (xiōngdì, brothers). Focus on understanding family relationships as they are frequently tested in HSK exams.
Learners often mix up 侄 (zhí) and 姪 (zhí), mistakenly using one for the other in conversations. For example, saying '我有一个姪' instead of '我有一个侄' can lead to confusion about which term to use for nephew.
Pronunciation of 侄
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Etymology of 侄
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 至 represents the sound. Simplified form of 姪.
person
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 侄
Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 至 represents the sound. Simplified form of 姪.
- 1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half至 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayperson
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 侄? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 侄
Identify the Components
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How to say nephew by the male line in Chinese
“nephew by the male line” in Chinese is侄
The character 侄 (zhí) refers to a nephew, specifically one who is the son of one's brother. This term is used in familial contexts to denote male relatives who are related through the male line, distinguishing it from other terms for relatives. It is often encountered in discussions about family relationships in both formal and informal settings.
When to use 侄
A common mistake is to confuse 侄 with 姪 (zhí), as both refer to nephews but may have different usages in various regions. This term is more formal, so in casual conversations, you might use '小侄' (xiǎo zhí) to refer to a younger nephew. Always pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
侄 or something close to it
侄 (nephew) vs 外甥 (nephew, specifically the son of one's sister) — use 侄 when referring to a brother's son.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 侄 (zhí) and 姪 (zhí), mistakenly using one for the other in conversations. For example, saying '我有一个姪' instead of '我有一个侄' can lead to confusion about which term to use for nephew.
Write 侄
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Practice writing 侄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 侄
侄 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.
Complete the Sentence
“把她从你的遗嘱中删去，”他的____子催促道。
"Cut her out of your will," urged his nephew.
Example Sentences for 侄 (3)
Word Family of 侄
Compound Meaning
What does 侄子 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 侄
侄 is pronounced as 'zhí', with the second tone, indicating a rising tone.
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