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婴儿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
婴儿yīng’érinfantHSK 6, n, 13 strokes, rank #1850, Hard
婴儿yīng’érbabyHSK 6, n, 13 strokes, rank #1850, Hard
婴儿yīng’érlead (Pb)HSK 6, n, 13 strokes, rank #1850, Hard
yīng’ér(ying1er2)ying er T1
  1. 1infant
  2. 2baby
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March 24, 2026

婴儿(嬰兒)yīng’ér(ying1er2)

婴儿 (yīng'ér) refers to an infant or baby, typically denoting a very young child who is not yet able to walk or talk. This term is commonly used in medical, parental, and educational contexts when discussing the care and development of young children.

Strokes13Frequency#1850DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the care of infants is taken very seriously, often with traditional practices and family involvement playing significant roles. The concept of '月子' (yuèzi), a month of postpartum care, emphasizes the importance of nurturing both the mother and infant.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny baby (婴) being cradled in your arms, and think of 'er' as a gentle sound that an infant makes. The character 婴 combines the radical for 'child' (女) and other components that evoke the tenderness of a newborn.

Meanings of 婴儿

yīng’ér(ying1er2)
1infant
2baby
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 婴儿

婴儿Simplified
嬰兒Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1850Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 婴儿

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Podcast: 婴儿

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AI Study Notes for 婴儿

Quick Contrast

幼儿 (yòu'ér) — use 婴儿 for very young infants, while 幼儿 refers to toddlers who are slightly older.

Usage Notes

婴儿 is more formal compared to other terms for baby, and it's often used in healthcare or parental advice contexts. Avoid confusing it with 小孩 (xiǎohái), which refers to older children. Be mindful of the tones, as mispronouncing them can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 婴儿 connects with other terms related to family and care. Focus on understanding its usage in medical contexts and how it relates to other family vocabulary, such as 母亲 (mother) and 父亲 (father).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 婴儿 with the word 幼儿 (yòu'ér) which refers to toddlers; using 婴儿 to describe a toddler can lead to misunderstandings. Another common mistake is mispronouncing the tones, which can alter the meaning significantly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 婴儿

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Component Characters

婴yīnginfant
11 strokes女
View full entry
儿érson
HSK 72 strokes儿
View full entry

How to say infant in Chinese

“infant” in Chinese is婴儿yīng’ér

婴儿 (yīng'ér) refers to an infant or baby, typically denoting a very young child who is not yet able to walk or talk. This term is commonly used in medical, parental, and educational contexts when discussing the care and development of young children.

When to use 婴儿

婴儿 is more formal compared to other terms for baby, and it's often used in healthcare or parental advice contexts. Avoid confusing it with 小孩 (xiǎohái), which refers to older children. Be mindful of the tones, as mispronouncing them can change the meaning entirely.

婴儿 or something close to it

幼儿 (yòu'ér) — use 婴儿 for very young infants, while 幼儿 refers to toddlers who are slightly older.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 婴儿 with the word 幼儿 (yòu'ér) which refers to toddlers; using 婴儿 to describe a toddler can lead to misunderstandings. Another common mistake is mispronouncing the tones, which can alter the meaning significantly.

Write 婴儿

婴
儿

Practice writing 婴儿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 婴儿

婴儿 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 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他认为____几乎就是毫无生命的物体。

He thought of the baby almost as an inanimate object.

Example Sentences for 婴儿 (10)

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1
他认为婴儿几乎就是毫无生命的物体。

tā rèn wéi yīng ér jī hū jiù shì háo wú shēng mìng de wù tǐ。

He thought of the baby almost as an inanimate object.
2
在黑暗和嘈杂的声音中，婴儿饱受惊吓。

zài hēi àn hé cáo zá de shēng yīn zhōng， ， yīng ér bǎo shòu jīng。

The baby was filled with alarm at the darkness and the noise.
3
我知道有一些狗咬婴儿的事情。

wǒ zhī dào yǒu yī xiē gǒu yǎo yīng ér de shì qíng。

I have known cases where dogs have nipped babies.
4
婴儿的母亲和另外两个孩子一起逃离了火海。

yīng ér de mǔ qīn hé lìng wài liǎng gè hái zǐ yī qǐ táo lí le huǒ hǎi。

The baby's mother escaped from the fire along with two other children.
5
有个婴儿在教堂后部大声啼哭。

yǒu gè yīng ér zài jiào táng hòu bù dà shēng tí kū。

There was an infant squalling in the back of the church.
6
婴儿早产3个月，体重只有3磅5盎司。

yīng ér zǎo chǎn3 3 gè， yuè ， tǐ zhòng3 zhī5 yǒu 3。

The baby was born three months early weighing only 3 lb 5oz.
7
世上最让人难受的莫过于小婴儿遭到遗弃。

shì shàng zuì ràng rén nán shòu de mò guò yú xiǎo yīng ér zāo dào yí qì。

The saddest thing in the world is a little baby nobody wants.
8
那婴儿是施行剖宫产手术出生的。

nà yīng ér shì shī háng pōu gōng chǎn shǒu shù chū shēng de。

The baby was born by Caesarean section.
9
婴儿要是渴了，就会吃得更频繁。

yīng ér yào shì kě le， ， jiù huì chī dé gēng pín。

If a baby is thirsty, it feeds more often.
10
长牙会很难受，婴儿会烦躁不安。

cháng yá huì hěn nán shòu， ， yīng ér huì fán zào bù。

Teething can be painful and make your baby irritable.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 婴儿

婴儿 specifically refers to infants and very young babies, while 小孩 is a broader term that includes children of various ages.

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