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儿子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
儿子
érzi
son
HSK 1, n, 5 strokes, rank #321, Easy
érzi(er2zi5)er zi T2
1son
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March 24, 2026
儿子(兒子)érzi(er2zi5)
儿子 (ér zi) means 'son' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to refer to one's male child. The term can also be used affectionately or in a familial context when discussing family relationships.
Strokes5Frequency#321DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, having a son is traditionally viewed as important for carrying on the family lineage. This cultural value can influence family dynamics and expectations.
Memory tip
Think of '儿' (ér) as a child with arms raised in joy, representing a young boy, and '子' (zi) as a small figure, hinting at a son in the family. Together, they form '儿子' (ér zi), a joyful image of a beloved son.
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AI study notes for 儿子
Quick Contrast
女儿 (nǚ'ér) - use 儿子 for male children, while 女儿 specifically refers to female children.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse儿子 (ér zi) with 男孩 (nán hái), which means 'boy' and can refer to any male child. Always use 儿子 when specifically indicating one's son. This term is informal, so in formal settings, you might use '我的儿子' (wǒ de ér zi) for 'my son'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 儿子 connects to other family-related vocabulary like 女儿 (nǚ ér, daughter) and 妈妈 (mā ma, mother). Focus on pronunciation, especially the second tone of 儿 (ér) and the neutral tone of 子 (zi).
Common Mistakes
Learners often pronounce 儿子 incorrectly, misplacing the tones. For example, saying 'ér zǐ' instead of 'ér zi' can lead to confusion. Pay attention to the tones to ensure clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 儿子
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儿子 (ér zi) means 'son' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to refer to one's male child. The term can also be used affectionately or in a familial context when discussing family relationships.
When to use 儿子
A common mistake is to confuse儿子 (ér zi) with 男孩 (nán hái), which means 'boy' and can refer to any male child. Always use 儿子 when specifically indicating one's son. This term is informal, so in formal settings, you might use '我的儿子' (wǒ de ér zi) for 'my son'.
儿子 or something close to it
女儿 (nǚ'ér) - use 儿子 for male children, while 女儿 specifically refers to female children.
What learners get wrong
Learners often pronounce 儿子 incorrectly, misplacing the tones. For example, saying 'ér zǐ' instead of 'ér zi' can lead to confusion. Pay attention to the tones to ensure clarity.
Write 儿子
儿
子
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Grammar patterns of 儿子
儿子 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
I haemorrhaged badly after the birth of all three of my sons.
7
“你的几个儿子好么？”——“谢谢关心。”
“ nǐ de jǐ gèr zi hǎo má？”——“ xièxie guānxīn。”
"How are your boys?" — "How nice of you to ask."
8
我的几个儿子从不指望别人帮他们熨好衣服。
wǒ de jǐ gèr zi cóngbù zhǐwàng biérén bāng tāmen yù hǎo yīfu。
My sons would never dream of expecting their clothes to be ironed.
9
约翰让人将莫德和她的儿子关进了地牢。
yāo hàn ràng rén jiāng mò dé hé tā de érzi guān jìn le dì láo。
John had Maude and her son cast into a dungeon.
10
她那平时很害羞的儿子已经开始与人交往了。
tā nà píngshí hěn hàixiū de érzi yǐjīng kāishǐ yǔ rén jiāowǎng le。
Her normally shy son had come out of his shell.
11
我有一个儿子，他今年五岁。
Wǒ yǒu yí gè érzi, tā jīnnián wǔ suì.
I have a son, he is five years old this year.
12
儿子喜欢吃苹果。
Érzi xǐhuān chī píngguǒ.
My son likes to eat apples.
13
他的儿子在学校学习汉语。
Tā de érzi zài xuéxiào xuéxí Hànyǔ.
His son is studying Chinese at school.
14
儿子和爸爸一起去公园。
Érzi hé bàba yìqǐ qù gōngyuán.
The son goes to the park with his dad.
15
我儿子每天都在家做作业。
Wǒ érzi měitiān dōu zài jiā zuò zuòyè.
My son does his homework at home every day.
16
她的儿子很喜欢踢足球。
Tā de érzi hěn xǐhuān tī zúqiú.
Her son really likes playing soccer.
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Cultural Notes for 儿子
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In many Western cultures, the emphasis on having a son is less pronounced, with equal value placed on daughters and sons. This difference reflects varying cultural attitudes toward gender roles.
Frequently asked questions about 儿子
You say '我的儿子' (wǒ de ér zi).
儿子 is primarily informal; for formal contexts, you might add '我的' (wǒ de) before it.
The opposite is 女儿 (nǚ ér), which means 'daughter'.
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