母子

• Pinyin: mǔ zǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 母 = mother; 子 = child/son. The mother-son pair.

Meaning

Mother and son; the relationship between a mother and her son.

Refers to the mother-son pair or their relationship. Similar to 母女 but for sons. Can describe both people or focus on their bond. Used in family contexts and sometimes in compounds like 母子平安 (mother and baby are safe — after childbirth).

Examples

1. 医生说母子平安，全家人悬着的心终于放下了。 The doctor said mother and baby are safe, and the whole family finally relaxed.
2. 单亲妈妈独自抚养儿子，母子相依为命。 A single mother raised her son alone — the two depended on each other for survival.
3. 这对母子每天一起晨跑，坚持了好多年。 This mother and son go jogging together every morning and have kept it up for many years.

Usage Guide

Context: family, medical, relationships

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 母子平安。(Mother and baby are both safe.)
• 母子感情很深。(The bond between mother and son is deep.)

Don't Say

• 用母子形容女儿 (母子 is specifically mother-son; use 母女 for mother-daughter)

Origin & History

Compound of 母 (mother) + 子 (son/child). Mother and son as a pair.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal