Meanings of 娃娃
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AI study notes for 娃娃
娃娃 (wáwa) vs 小孩 (xiǎohái) — use 娃娃 for a more affectionate or playful connotation, while 小孩 is more neutral and general.
Be careful not to confuse 娃娃 with 童 (tóng), which also refers to children but is more formal. 娃娃 is predominantly informal and is often used in casual speech. Common collocations include 娃娃玩具 (wáwá wánjù - toy doll) and 娃娃亲 (wáwá qīn - arranged marriage when young).
As an HSK Level 6 word, 娃娃 connects with other words related to childhood and family, such as 儿童 (értóng - children) and 孩子 (háizi - kid). Focus on using 娃娃 in sentences that express affection or describe childhood experiences.
Learners often misuse 娃娃 in formal contexts, such as in writing or speeches, where a more formal term like 儿童 (értóng) would be appropriate. For example, saying '娃娃的教育' (wáwa de jiàoyù) instead of '儿童的教育' (értóng de jiàoyù) would be incorrect.
Pronunciation of 娃娃
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Component characters
How to say baby in Chinese
“baby” in Chinese is娃娃
娃娃 (wáwa) refers to a baby, small child, or doll. It is commonly used in contexts relating to children, toys, or affectionate terms for young ones. This word conveys a sense of innocence and playfulness, making it suitable for informal conversations.
When to use 娃娃
Be careful not to confuse 娃娃 with 童 (tóng), which also refers to children but is more formal. 娃娃 is predominantly informal and is often used in casual speech. Common collocations include 娃娃玩具 (wáwá wánjù - toy doll) and 娃娃亲 (wáwá qīn - arranged marriage when young).
娃娃 or something close to it
娃娃 (wáwa) vs 小孩 (xiǎohái) — use 娃娃 for a more affectionate or playful connotation, while 小孩 is more neutral and general.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 娃娃 in formal contexts, such as in writing or speeches, where a more formal term like 儿童 (értóng) would be appropriate. For example, saying '娃娃的教育' (wáwa de jiàoyù) instead of '儿童的教育' (értóng de jiàoyù) would be incorrect.
Write 娃娃
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Grammar patterns of 娃娃
娃娃 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
床头贴着“胖____萝卜”的年画.
The cave was large , but quite warm . It had a stove and eating utensils.
Example sentences for 娃娃 (8)
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Frequently asked questions about 娃娃
娃娃 is more informal and often refers specifically to young children or dolls, while 孩子 is a broader term for kids in general.
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