孙子

• Pinyin: sūn zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 孙 = 子 (child) + 小 (small), simplified from 孫, meaning grandchild; 子 = pictograph of a baby, meaning son or child

Meaning

Grandson (son's son). A paternal grandson.

Specifically refers to a son's son in the Chinese kinship system. In casual modern usage, sometimes used loosely for any grandson. The maternal equivalent is 外孙. Also the name of the famous military strategist Sun Tzu, though pronounced with different tones.

Examples

1. 爷爷带着孙子去公园放风筝。 Grandpa took his grandson to the park to fly kites.
2. 他的孙子长得和他小时候一模一样。 His grandson looks exactly like he did when he was little.
3. 奶奶每天接孙子放学回家。 Grandma picks up her grandson from school every day.

Usage Guide

Context: family, everyday

Tone: affectionate

Do Say

• 老王的孙子今年考上了大学。(Old Wang's grandson was admitted to university this year.)
• 爷爷给孙子买了一辆新自行车。(Grandpa bought his grandson a new bicycle.)

Don't Say

• 她的孙子是个女孩。(孙子 refers specifically to a male grandchild — use 孙女 for a granddaughter.)

Origin & History

Compound of 孙 (grandchild) and 子 (son, child), literally 'grandchild-son.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal