儿童

• Pinyin: ér tóng
• Hanzi breakdown: 儿 = simplified pictograph of a child; 童 = 立 (stand) + 里 (village), originally depicting a young servant

Meaning

Children; kids. Young people, typically under the age of twelve or fourteen.

A formal term for children, more commonly seen in official, legal, educational, and media contexts than in casual conversation. Appears in compounds like 儿童节 (Children's Day, June 1st), 儿童医院 (children's hospital), and 儿童教育 (children's education). In everyday speech, 小孩 or 孩子 are more common.

Examples

1. 六一儿童节是小朋友们最开心的日子。 International Children's Day on June 1st is the happiest day for kids.
2. 这个公园有专门给儿童玩的区域。 This park has a designated area for children to play.
3. 儿童票半价，成人票全价。 Children's tickets are half price; adult tickets are full price.

Usage Guide

Context: education, official

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这本书适合儿童阅读。(This book is suitable for children to read.)
• 儿童不宜观看这部电影。(This film is not suitable for children.)

Don't Say

• 在日常口语中用'儿童'称呼小孩 (Don't use 儿童 to refer to kids in everyday conversation — it sounds official; use 小孩 or 孩子 for casual speech)

Origin & History

Compound of 儿 (child, son) and 童 (child, boy servant). Both characters independently mean child; together they form the standard formal term.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal