儿子

• Pinyin: ér zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 儿 (child) + 子 (child, son) — one's male child

Meaning

Son. One's male child.

The standard term for a male child in relation to parents. Common patterns: 我的儿子 (my son), 大儿子 (eldest son), 小儿子 (youngest son). The female equivalent is 女儿 (daughter).

Examples

1. 他的儿子今年五岁。 His son is five years old this year.
2. 我有一个儿子。 I have a son.
3. 她的儿子是大学生。 Her son is a university student.

Usage Guide

Context: family, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你儿子多大了？(How old is your son?)
• 我儿子在上小学。(My son is in primary school.)

Don't Say

• 她的儿子 referring to a daughter (儿子 is strictly male — use 女儿 for daughter)

Origin & History

Compound of 儿 (child) and 子 (child, suffix for people) — a male child, one's son.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal