Meanings of 男生
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 男生
Podcast: 男生
Podcast: 男生
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 男生
女生 (nǚshēng) refers to a female student or girl; use 男生 when referring to males.
Be careful not to confuse 男生 with 男子 (nánzǐ), which can imply a more mature man. While 男生 is informal and widely used, in formal contexts or when addressing someone respectfully, use terms like 学生 (xuéshēng) for student, which is gender-neutral. Note that the second tone in 男 (nán) is pronounced with a rising tone, which is essential to avoid misunderstandings.
Though 男生 is not officially part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with the HSK level 1 word 学生 (xuéshēng). Students at this level should focus on understanding the context of gendered nouns and practicing their pronunciation, particularly the tones.
Learners often mistakenly use 男生 to refer to adult males in formal contexts, which is inappropriate. Instead, they should use 男子 (nánzǐ) for mature males. Additionally, some may mix up the tones, saying 'nán sheng' with incorrect intonation, which can lead to confusion.
Pronunciation of 男生
Drill the tone of 男生 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Component Characters
How to say schoolboy in Chinese
“schoolboy” in Chinese is男生
男生 (nánshēng) refers to a male student or boy, typically used in educational contexts to describe young males, especially in school settings. It can also informally refer to young adult males. The term is commonly used in discussions about school life or among peers to distinguish gender.
When to use 男生
Be careful not to confuse 男生 with 男子 (nánzǐ), which can imply a more mature man. While 男生 is informal and widely used, in formal contexts or when addressing someone respectfully, use terms like 学生 (xuéshēng) for student, which is gender-neutral. Note that the second tone in 男 (nán) is pronounced with a rising tone, which is essential to avoid misunderstandings.
男生 or something close to it
女生 (nǚshēng) refers to a female student or girl; use 男生 when referring to males.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 男生 to refer to adult males in formal contexts, which is inappropriate. Instead, they should use 男子 (nánzǐ) for mature males. Additionally, some may mix up the tones, saying 'nán sheng' with incorrect intonation, which can lead to confusion.
Write 男生
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 男生 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions about 男生
While primarily used for school-aged boys, 男生 can also refer to young adult males in informal settings.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 男生?
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.