Writing
How to say “son” in Chinese
儿子
Son
noun
Character composition
儿
son; suffix -r
子
child; noun suffix
Radicals / Keys
子
Child
#39 · zǐ · 3 strokes
儿
Son, legs
#10 · ér · 2 strokes
Examples
他有一个儿子。
He has a son.
这是我的儿子。
This is my son.
Mnemonic
[érzi-] Erzy the Elf journeys into a magical forest where she discovers a mystical boy sitting on a cloud shaped like 儿子. The cloud cradles a small child 子 with twinkling eyes, and above him floats the 儿 that makes him somebody's son. 🌳👦
Frequently asked questions
How do you say son in Mandarin Chinese?
The standard word is 儿子 (érzi).
What is the difference between 儿子 and 孩子?
儿子 specifically means “son.” 孩子 (háizi) is gender-neutral and means “child” or “kid.”
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