子女

• Pinyin: zǐ nǚ
• Hanzi breakdown: 子 = pictograph of a swaddled baby; 女 = pictograph of a kneeling woman

Meaning

Children; sons and daughters. A formal term for one's offspring collectively.

A relatively formal term referring to one's sons and daughters collectively. Used in discussions about family, education policy, inheritance, and parenting. More formal than 孩子 (children) and specifically refers to one's own offspring rather than children in general. Common in legal, educational, and news contexts.

Examples

1. 每个父母都希望子女健康快乐。 Every parent hopes their children will be healthy and happy.
2. 她有三个子女，两个儿子一个女儿。 She has three children: two sons and one daughter.
3. 子女应该多关心年老的父母。 Children should show more care for their ageing parents.

Usage Guide

Context: family, legal, education, news

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 父母和子女之间需要多沟通。(Parents and children need to communicate more.)
• 他把所有的爱都给了子女。(He gave all his love to his children.)

Don't Say

• 你的子女几岁了？(In casual conversation, this sounds overly formal — use 孩子 instead; 子女 is more natural in formal discussions, news, or written contexts)

Origin & History

子 (son, child) + 女 (daughter, woman). Together: sons and daughters, i.e. one's children.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal