The word '儿女' is a common term for children that emphasizes their relationship to their parents regardless of age.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Refers collectively to sons and daughters.
- Used to describe the parent-child relationship.
- Appropriate for offspring of any age.
Overview
- 1概述：“儿女”是一个并列式合成词，“儿”代表儿子，“女”代表女儿。它在中文里是一个非常基础且核心的家庭词汇，用于描述亲子关系。2) 用法特点：该词既可以用于口语，也可以用于书面语。它通常作为整体出现，即使某人只有儿子或只有女儿，在泛指时也可以使用这个词，但在具体指代时，如果性别单一，通常会直接说“儿子”或“女儿”。3) 常见语境：最常出现在讨论家庭责任、父母对孩子的爱、以及法律或道德义务的语境中。例如，在讨论赡养老人时，常说“儿女的义务”。4) 词义辨析：与“孩子”相比，“儿女”更强调血缘和辈分关系，且不限年龄（即使是50岁的人，在父母面前依然是“儿女”）；而“孩子”更多指年龄较小的人。与“子女”相比，“儿女”更具感情色彩，多用于日常生活和文学作品，而“子女”则多用于法律、人口普查等正式文书。
Examples
他膝下有一对儿女，生活很幸福。
everydayHe has a son and a daughter, and his life is very happy.
作为儿女，我们应该孝顺父母。
formalAs children, we should be filial to our parents.
这部电影讲述了一群英雄儿女的故事。
literaryThis movie tells the story of a group of heroic sons and daughters.
父母的爱是无私的，总是全心全意为了儿女。
informalParents' love is selfless, always dedicated to their children.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
儿女双全
to have both a son and a daughter
儿女私情
personal romantic affairs
Often Confused With
'Haizi' focuses on age (being young), while 'Ernu' focuses on the relationship (being offspring).
'Zinu' is formal and legalistic; 'Ernu' is more colloquial and warmer.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
In modern Chinese, '儿女' is neutral in register but carries a sense of familial warmth. It is rarely used to address children directly; instead, it is used when talking *about* them. In classical literature, it can also refer to young lovers, but this is rare in modern speech.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake for learners is using '儿女' to refer to a group of unrelated children. Another mistake is using it in highly technical legal documents where '子女' is the standard term.
Tips
Use it for general family discussions
When talking about the responsibilities of the younger generation towards parents, '儿女' is the most natural term.
Avoid for random young people
Do not call a group of children on the street '儿女'; use '孩子们' instead.
Concept of Filial Piety
In Chinese culture, '儿女' are deeply tied to the concept of 'Xiao' (filial piety), meaning they have a lifelong duty to care for their parents.
Word Origin
A compound word combining the characters for son (儿) and daughter (女), dating back to ancient Chinese texts to denote offspring of both sexes.
Cultural Context
In China, having '儿女双全' (both a son and a daughter) is traditionally considered a sign of great fortune and a 'complete' family.
Memory Tip
Think of the characters: 儿 (son) + 女 (daughter). Together they represent all the children a parent has.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“孩子”通常指未成年人或年纪小的人，而“儿女”强调的是辈分，无论孩子多大，对父母来说都是儿女。
在具体的自我介绍中，通常说“我有一个儿子”。“儿女”更多用于泛指或当你有多个不同性别的孩子时。
它属于中性词，既可以用于日常谈话，也可以用于文学创作。但在法律合同中，通常使用更正式的“子女”。
这是一个成语，指过分沉溺于男女之间的情爱，或者指亲属间的感情深厚，难以割舍。
Test Yourself
王大爷有一对好___，经常回家看望他。
“回家看望他”暗示了家庭亲情关系，因此“儿女”最合适。
他的【子女】都在国外工作。
“子女”和“儿女”是近义词，都指父母的孩子。
父母 / 为 / 总是 / 操心 / 儿女
标准的汉语主谓宾结构：父母（主语）+ 总是（副词）+ 为儿女（介词短语作状语）+ 操心（谓语）。
Score: /3
Summary
The word '儿女' is a common term for children that emphasizes their relationship to their parents regardless of age.
- Refers collectively to sons and daughters.
- Used to describe the parent-child relationship.
- Appropriate for offspring of any age.
Use it for general family discussions
When talking about the responsibilities of the younger generation towards parents, '儿女' is the most natural term.
Avoid for random young people
Do not call a group of children on the street '儿女'; use '孩子们' instead.
Concept of Filial Piety
In Chinese culture, '儿女' are deeply tied to the concept of 'Xiao' (filial piety), meaning they have a lifelong duty to care for their parents.
Examples
4 of 4他膝下有一对儿女，生活很幸福。
He has a son and a daughter, and his life is very happy.
作为儿女，我们应该孝顺父母。
As children, we should be filial to our parents.
这部电影讲述了一群英雄儿女的故事。
This movie tells the story of a group of heroic sons and daughters.
父母的爱是无私的，总是全心全意为了儿女。
Parents' love is selfless, always dedicated to their children.
