幼儿园

• Pinyin: yòu ér yuán
• Hanzi breakdown: 幼 = 幺 (tiny) + 力 (force), young; 儿 = pictograph of a child; 园 = 囗 (enclosure) + 袁 (phonetic), garden

Meaning

Kindergarten; preschool. The educational institution for young children before they begin primary school, typically ages three to six.

In China, 幼儿园 covers three years of preschool education (小班, 中班, 大班 — small, middle, and large classes). It is managed by the Ministry of Education. Entry to a good 幼儿园 can be competitive in major cities. Also called 托儿所 for younger infants.

Examples

1. 妹妹今年三岁了，已经开始上幼儿园了。 My younger sister is three years old this year and has already started kindergarten.
2. 幼儿园的老师非常有耐心，孩子们都很喜欢她。 The kindergarten teachers are very patient, and all the children adore them.
3. 每天下午五点，很多家长聚集在幼儿园门口等着接孩子。 Every afternoon at five o'clock, many parents gather at the kindergarten gate to collect their children.

Usage Guide

Context: education, family, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 她的孩子明年就要上幼儿园了。(Her child will be starting kindergarten next year.)
• 我们附近有一所口碑很好的幼儿园。(There is a well-regarded kindergarten near us.)

Don't Say

• 将'幼儿园'和'小学'混用 (Don't confuse 幼儿园 with 小学 — 幼儿园 is preschool/kindergarten for ages 3–6, while 小学 is primary school for ages 6–12)

Origin & History

A compound of 幼 (young/infant; 幺 tiny + 力 force), 儿 (child; pictograph of a child), and 园 (garden/park; 囗 enclosure + 袁 phonetic). Literally 'garden of young children' — modelled on the German concept of Kindergarten.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal