孙女

• Pinyin: sūn nǚ
• Hanzi breakdown: 孙 = 子 (child) + 小 (small), simplified from 孫, meaning grandchild; 女 = pictograph of a woman kneeling

Meaning

Granddaughter (son's daughter). A paternal granddaughter.

Specifically refers to a son's daughter in the Chinese kinship system. In casual modern usage, sometimes used loosely for any granddaughter. The maternal equivalent is 外孙女. Grandparents often dote on their grandchildren in Chinese culture.

Examples

1. 爷爷最疼他的小孙女了。 Grandpa dotes on his little granddaughter the most.
2. 他的孙女今年刚上小学。 His granddaughter just started primary school this year.
3. 奶奶经常给孙女讲故事。 Grandma often tells stories to her granddaughter.

Usage Guide

Context: family, everyday

Tone: affectionate

Do Say

• 他有两个孙女，都很可爱。(He has two granddaughters, both very cute.)
• 孙女放学后喜欢去爷爷家玩。(The granddaughter likes to go to grandpa's house to play after school.)

Don't Say

• 她是我妈妈的孙女。(If referring to your mother's daughter's daughter, use 外孙女, not 孙女. 孙女 is specifically the son's daughter.)

Origin & History

Compound of 孙 (grandchild) and 女 (female), literally 'grandchild-female.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal