Prefixes & Suffixes (词缀)
词缀（前缀 / 后缀）
Recognise the HSK 1 bound morphemes: 小—, 第—, —们, —边
Chinese has a small set of bound morphemes that can't stand alone but reshape any word they attach to. HSK 1 introduces two PREFIXES (小— for affection/young; 第— for ordinals) and two SUFFIXES (—们 for plurals of people; —边 for location nouns).
These pieces never function as words on their own — they only have meaning when attached to a root. 小 outside of 小王 means "small"; as a prefix it just adds friendliness or smallness to the name that follows.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Prefixes & Suffixes (词缀) (词缀（前缀 / 后缀）)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 词缀（前缀 / 后缀） pattern
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Understanding 词缀（前缀 / 后缀）
Chinese is mostly built from free-standing one-syllable morphemes, but a small handful are GLUE — they only exist as attachments. The HSK 3.0 大纲 introduces four of them at level 1. PREFIXES: 小— stuck before names and animals to add affection or smallness (小王 "young Wang," 小狗 "puppy"); 第— stuck before a number to make an ordinal (第一 "first," 第三 "third"). SUFFIXES: —们 added to a human pronoun or noun to make it plural (我们, 朋友们); —边 added to a location word to make a side noun (上边, 旁边). Recognising these four pieces unlocks dozens of HSK 1 words you already half-know.
Key Points
- 小— prefix: friendliness or young/small. 小王, 小李 (for friends with surname Wang/Li); 小狗 (puppy), 小猫 (kitten).
- 第— prefix: ordinal numbers. 第一 (first), 第二 (second), 第十 (tenth).
- —们 suffix: plurals of PEOPLE only. 我们 (we), 你们 (you-plural), 他们 (they), 朋友们 (friends).
- —边 suffix: side / direction noun. 上边 (top side), 下边 (bottom side), 旁边 (beside), 外边 (outside).
- —们 does NOT attach to ordinary objects: 三本书们 ✗. For things, use a number + measure word.
- —们 doubles up — you don't need 三个朋友们 (already plural); just say 三个朋友.
- 第— combines freely with the standard counting numbers — no measure word required for the ordinal itself: 第一名, 第三课.
- 小 + name is a friendly informal form; the symmetric 老 + name (老王 = "Old Wang") is the elder-friendly version (HSK 2).
Adding 小 before a colleague's surname (小王) is a classic Chinese gesture of friendly familiarity used for younger or peer-aged people. The reverse 老王 (Old Wang) is reserved for older or more senior colleagues. Misusing one for the other can sound presumptuous — pay attention to age and seniority cues.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
小王是我的朋友。
"Young Wang" is my friend.
Friendly prefix on a surname.
这是第一课。
This is the first lesson.
第 + number = ordinal.
我们都是学生。
We are all students.
我 + 们 = "we."
朋友们，你们好！
Friends, hello!
们 on both 朋友 and 你.
洗手间在右边。
The restroom is on the right.
边 suffix on a direction word.
我家旁边有一家超市。
There's a supermarket next to my home.
小猫在桌子下边。
The kitten is under the table.
Prefix + suffix in one sentence.
他是我第三个朋友。
He's my third friend.
第 + number + measure word + noun.
老师们，谢谢你们！
Teachers, thank you all!
第一名是小李。
First place is Young Li.
Both affixes again.
Common Mistakes
们 ONLY pluralises people (and a few human-like nouns). Books, tables, and animals never take 们.
For an ordinal ("first lesson"), you MUST attach 第—. Without 第, the phrase 一课 sounds like "one lesson" (count), not "lesson one" (order).
Once you put a number + measure word before a noun, drop 们 — the count already pluralises. 三个朋友 needs no extra 们.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Four bound morphemes to memorise: 小—, 第—, —们, —边. Each one only works when glued to a root.
们 = people pluraliser only. If the noun isn't a person (or pronoun), no 们.
第 + number = ordinal. Without 第, you just have a count.
When 小 sits before a Chinese surname (小王, 小李), it's a friendly informal address — comparable to first-name basis in English.
Homework
Write eight sentences that use ALL four HSK 1 affixes at least once. Example template: one with 小 + name, one with 第 + ordinal, one with 们 on a pronoun and on a noun, one with each —边 direction (上 / 下 / 左 / 右 / 旁).