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March 24, 2026
侄zhí(zhi2)
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.
Strokes8Radical亻Frequency#47516DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of family hierarchy and lineage is significant, making terms like 侄 especially important in family gatherings and discussions. Family roles and relationships are often emphasized during traditional festivals and ceremonies.
Memory Tip
Think of 侄 (zhí) as 'a brother's child'—the left part (亻) represents a person, while the right part (知) can remind you of 'to know' or 'knowledge'. Imagine a person (your brother) who knows their child well—your nephew!
Meanings of 侄
zhí(zhi2)
1nephew by the male line
2nephew
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 侄
侄Simplified
8Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#47516Frequency Rank
Podcast: 侄
Podcast: 侄
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AI Study Notes for 侄
Quick Contrast
侄 (nephew) vs 外甥 (nephew, specifically the son of one's sister) — use 侄 when referring to a brother's son.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 侄 (zhí) as 'a brother's child'—the left part (亻) represents a person, while the right part (知) can remind you of 'to know' or 'knowledge'. Imagine a person (your brother) who knows their child well—your nephew!
Usage Notes
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.
HSK Study Tips
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.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of family hierarchy and lineage is significant, making terms like 侄 especially important in family gatherings and discussions. Family roles and relationships are often emphasized during traditional festivals and ceremonies.
Common Mistakes
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.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 侄
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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 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 3
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)
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1
“把她从你的遗嘱中删去，”他的侄子催促道。
“ “ bǎ tā cóng nǐ de yí zhǔ zhōng shān，” qù ，” tā de zhí zǐ cuī。
"Cut her out of your will," urged his nephew.
2
我本人的确喜欢辣菜, 可我的侄女却不喜欢.
wǒ běn rén de què xǐ huān là cài, , kě wǒ de zhí nǚ què bù xǐ.
This year all the apples are all red. My niece and nephew are going out this morning with step-ladders to pick some.
Cultural Notes for 侄
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of family hierarchy and lineage is significant, making terms like 侄 especially important in family gatherings and discussions. Family roles and relationships are often emphasized during traditional festivals and ceremonies.
Word Family of 侄
Words Containing This Character11
侄子zhízinephew姪子
侄女niece姪女
侄zhínephew by the male line
侄儿nephew姪兒
侄孙grandnephew姪孫
表侄son of a male cousin via female line表姪
堂侄nephew by the male line堂姪
侄女婿niece's husband姪女婿
侄媳妇nephew's wife姪媳婦
侄孙女grand niece姪孫女
表侄女daughter of a male cousin via female line表姪女
Exercise 1 of 4
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.
Yes, while 侄 is more formal, it can still be used in informal settings when discussing family.
侄 is a variant of 姪, but both refer to the same relationship; however, 侄 is more commonly used in certain regions.
