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A1 noun #2,259 最常用 7分钟阅读

child

At the A1 level, 'child' is one of the first nouns you learn. It means a young person. You use it to talk about your family. For example: 'I have one child.' You also learn that the plural is 'children'. It is a simple word for a young boy or girl.
At A2, you use 'child' to describe people and routines. You might talk about 'childhood' or 'children's games'. You understand the difference between 'a child' and 'an adult'. You can use it in simple sentences like 'The child is playing with a ball.'
At B1, you start using 'child' in more complex ways, such as discussing 'childcare' or 'child development'. You can explain the roles of children in a family and use the word in different tenses. You also begin to see the word in news stories and simple articles.
At B2, you understand the nuances between 'child', 'kid', and 'adolescent'. You can discuss social issues like 'child labor' or 'child protection'. You use the word in formal debates and can distinguish between 'childish' (negative) and 'childlike' (positive).
At C1, you use 'child' in academic and professional contexts. You understand legal definitions of 'the child' in international law. You can use the word metaphorically, such as 'a child of the revolution', and understand its use in psychological theories like the 'inner child'.
At C2, you master the word's full range of idiomatic and literary uses. You can analyze the portrayal of the 'child' in literature and philosophy. You use the word with precision in legal, medical, and sociological discourses, recognizing subtle shifts in meaning across different English-speaking cultures.
开始练习 例句 笔记与提示

child 30秒了解

  • A child is a young human being before they become an adult.
  • The word 'child' also refers to a person's son or daughter, regardless of age.
  • The plural form of child is 'children', which is an irregular plural.
  • In formal and legal contexts, 'child' is the preferred term over 'kid'.

The term child is a foundational noun in the English language, primarily denoting a young human being who has not yet reached the stage of biological or legal maturity. At its most basic level, it refers to the period of life between infancy and adolescence. However, the word carries deep relational and legal weight that extends beyond mere age. In a biological context, a child is the direct offspring of two parents, regardless of their current age. This means a sixty-year-old man is still the 'child' of his eighty-year-old mother. Legally, the definition is often more rigid, typically referring to anyone under the age of 18, though this varies by jurisdiction. The concept of 'childhood' is a relatively modern social construct, and the word 'child' captures the essence of innocence, development, and dependency.

Biological Aspect
Refers to the immediate descendant of parents.
Developmental Aspect
Refers to a human in the stage before puberty.
Legal Aspect
A minor who has not yet reached the age of majority.

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." — Pablo Picasso

In psychological terms, the 'inner child' represents the childlike aspect of an adult's personality, including their capacity for wonder, playfulness, and emotional sensitivity. The word is also used metaphorically to describe someone who is influenced by a specific time, place, or movement, such as being a 'child of the sixties'. This versatility makes it one of the most frequently used nouns in English, appearing in everything from medical journals to bedtime stories.

The child played quietly in the garden with her wooden blocks.

As an only child, he spent a lot of time reading books.

Collective Use
'The children' often refers to a group of young people in a school or community.

The law protects the rights of the child in all circumstances.

She is a child of the digital age, born with a smartphone in her hand.

Etymological Root
Derived from the Old English 'cild', originally meaning a fetus or newborn.

Using the word child correctly involves understanding its grammatical quirks and its various shades of meaning. The most important rule is its irregular pluralization: one child, two children. Learners often mistakenly say 'childs', which is only correct as a possessive (e.g., 'the child's toy'). When referring to your own offspring, 'child' is appropriate regardless of age. For example, 'My child is a doctor' is perfectly natural even if the doctor is 40 years old.

In terms of register, 'child' is the standard, neutral term. While 'kid' is extremely common in spoken English, 'child' is required in legal, medical, and formal academic contexts. For instance, a hospital has a 'Pediatric Ward for Children', not 'for kids'. In literature, 'child' often evokes a sense of vulnerability or potential. Phrases like 'child prodigy' or 'child labor' use the word as a noun adjunct to modify another noun, indicating the age group involved.

Grammatically, 'child' can be used in several patterns:

  • As a subject: "The child ran to the park."
  • As an object: "They adopted a child."
  • In the possessive: "The child's backpack was heavy."
  • In compound nouns: "Childcare", "childhood", "childproof".

When discussing gender, 'child' is gender-neutral. If you need to specify, you would use 'boy' or 'girl'. In modern usage, 'child' is also increasingly used in the plural 'children' to refer to one's descendants across multiple generations in a general sense, though 'descendants' is more precise for genealogy.

You will encounter the word child in almost every facet of daily life. In educational settings, teachers frequently use it to refer to their students, though they often use the plural 'children' or 'class'. In legal and political discourse, the word is used to define rights and protections, such as in the 'UN Convention on the Rights of the Child'. Politicians often use the phrase 'for the sake of the children' to appeal to the emotions of voters.

In medical contexts, doctors and nurses use 'child' to categorize patients by developmental stage, which dictates dosages and treatment types. You'll see signs for 'Child Health Clinics' or 'Child Psychology'. In media and entertainment, news reports might mention a 'missing child' or a 'child star' in Hollywood. Movies often center on the perspective of a child to explore themes of discovery and growth.

In family life, parents use the word to describe their relationship to their offspring. Even in religious texts, the word is prominent, often used metaphorically to describe the relationship between a deity and humanity (e.g., 'children of God'). Finally, in commercial settings, you will see 'child prices' for tickets or 'child menus' in restaurants, indicating a smaller portion or a discounted rate for young patrons.

The most frequent error with child is the plural form. Because most English nouns add '-s' to become plural, many learners say 'childs'. It is vital to memorize children as the only correct plural. Another common mistake is the confusion between 'child' and 'kid'. While 'kid' is acceptable in conversation, using it in a formal essay or a professional email can seem too informal or even disrespectful in certain cultures.

Another nuance is the use of the word 'childish' versus 'childlike'. Both are adjectives derived from 'child', but they have very different connotations. Childish is usually negative, meaning immature or silly (e.g., 'Stop that childish behavior!'). Childlike is usually positive, meaning having the good qualities of a child, such as innocence or wonder (e.g., 'She had a childlike curiosity about the world').

Learners also sometimes struggle with the possessive plural. The possessive of 'child' is child's (one child's toy), but the possessive of 'children' is children's (the children's toys). Note that because 'children' does not end in 's', you must add 's, not just an apostrophe. Lastly, avoid using 'child' when you mean 'infant' or 'baby' if the person is very young (under 1 year), as 'child' usually implies someone who can walk and talk.

While child is the most common term, several synonyms exist, each with a specific nuance. Kid is the most common informal synonym. It is used in almost all casual settings but should be avoided in formal writing. Toddler refers specifically to a child who is just beginning to walk (usually ages 1 to 3). Infant or baby refers to a very young child, typically before they can walk or talk.

Adolescent or teenager refers to a child who has reached puberty but is not yet an adult. In a biological or formal context, the word offspring is used to refer to the children of a person, animal, or plant. Minor is a strictly legal term for anyone under the age of legal responsibility. Youth is a more collective or abstract term for young people as a group.

In literature or old-fashioned English, you might encounter bairn (Scottish) or lad/lass (British English). Progeny is a very formal, almost scientific word for children or descendants. Understanding these distinctions helps in choosing the right word for the right context. For example, you wouldn't call a 15-year-old a 'toddler', but you could call them a 'child' in a legal sense or a 'teenager' in a social sense.

How Formal Is It?

正式

""

非正式

""

难度评级

需要掌握的语法

按水平分级的例句

1

The child is happy.

L'enfant est heureux.

Subject + Verb + Adjective

2

I see a child.

Je vois un enfant.

Direct object

3

Is he a child?

Est-ce un enfant ?

Interrogative form

4

The child has a toy.

L'enfant a un jouet.

Verb 'to have'

5

One child, two children.

Un enfant, deux enfants.

Irregular plural

6

The child is small.

L'enfant est petit.

Descriptive adjective

7

This is my child.

C'est mon enfant.

Possessive adjective

8

The child sleeps.

L'enfant dort.

Present simple

1

The child is playing in the park.

L'enfant joue dans le parc.

Present continuous

2

She was a quiet child.

Elle était une enfant calme.

Past simple 'was'

3

Do you have any children?

Avez-vous des enfants ?

Plural noun in question

4

The child's name is Leo.

Le nom de l'enfant est Leo.

Possessive 's

5

He is the youngest child in the family.

Il est le plus jeune enfant de la famille.

Superlative adjective

6

Every child needs love.

Chaque enfant a besoin d'amour.

Determiner 'every' + singular noun

7

The children are going to school.

Les enfants vont à l'école.

Plural subject

8

I liked that movie when I was a child.

J'aimais ce film quand j'étais enfant.

Time clause

1

It is difficult to raise a child nowadays.

Il est difficile d'élever un enfant de nos jours.

Infinitive phrase as subject

2

The child was found safe and sound.

L'enfant a été retrouvé sain et sauf.

Passive voice

3

As a child, I used to play outside every day.

Enfant, j'avais l'habitude de jouer dehors tous les jours.

'Used to' for past habits

4

They are looking for high-quality childcare.

Ils cherchent des services de garde d'enfants de haute qualité.

Compound noun 'childcare'

5

The child showed great potential in music.

L'enfant a montré un grand potentiel en musique.

Noun + adjective

6

A child's imagination is limitless.

L'imagination d'un enfant est sans limites.

Possessive as subject

7

She treats him like a child.

Elle le traite comme un enfant.

Simile with 'like'

8

The law protects every child's right to education.

La loi protège le droit de chaque enfant à l'éducation.

Complex object

1

The study focuses on child development milestones.

L'étude se concentre sur les étapes du développement de l'enfant.

Noun adjunct

2

He is a child of the 90s, influenced by grunge music.

C'est un enfant des années 90, influencé par la musique grunge.

Metaphorical usage

3

The company was accused of using child labor.

L'entreprise a été accusée d'utiliser le travail des enfants.

Gerund phrase

4

Her behavior was quite childish for her age.

Son comportement était assez enfantin pour son âge.

Adjective 'childish'

5

The child's welfare is our primary concern.

Le bien-être de l'enfant est notre préoccupation première.

Abstract noun 'welfare'

6

Only a child could be so honest.

Seul un enfant pourrait être aussi honnête.

Modal 'could'

7

The film explores the loss of innocence in a child.

Le film explore la perte de l'innocence chez un enfant.

Prepositional phrase

8

They decided to remain childless by choice.

Ils ont décidé de rester sans enfant par choix.

Adjective 'childless'

1

The legal definition of a child varies by country.

La définition légale d'un enfant varie selon les pays.

Formal subject

2

We must nurture the inner child to maintain creativity.

Nous devons nourrir l'enfant intérieur pour maintenir la créativité.

Psychological term

3

The policy aims to reduce child mortality rates.

La politique vise à réduire les taux de mortalité infantile.

Technical collocation

4

The child is father to the man.

L'enfant est le père de l'homme.

Proverbial expression

5

The court appointed a guardian for the child.

Le tribunal a nommé un tuteur pour l'enfant.

Legal terminology

6

Her childlike wonder never ceased to amaze me.

Son émerveillement enfantin n'a jamais cessé de m'étonner.

Adjective 'childlike'

7

The psychological impact on the child was profound.

L'impact psychologique sur l'enfant a été profond.

Academic tone

8

The child was a mere pawn in their political game.

L'enfant n'était qu'un pion dans leur jeu politique.

Metaphorical object

1

The ontological status of the child is a subject of debate.

Le statut ontologique de l'enfant est un sujet de débat.

Philosophical register

2

The narrative is told through the eyes of a precocious child.

Le récit est raconté à travers les yeux d'un enfant précoce.

Literary analysis

3

The state's role as parens patriae regarding the child is crucial.

Le rôle de l'État en tant que parens patriae concernant l'enfant est crucial.

Latin legal term

4

The child's agency is often overlooked in historical accounts.

L'agence de l'enfant est souvent négligée dans les récits historiques.

Sociological term 'agency'

5

He was a child of misfortune, born into extreme poverty.

C'était un enfant du malheur, né dans une pauvreté extrême.

Idiomatic 'child of...'

6

The transition from child to adult is marked by various rites.

La transition de l'enfant à l'adulte est marquée par divers rites.

Anthropological context

7

The child's testimony was deemed inadmissible in court.

Le témoignage de l'enfant a été jugé irrecevable au tribunal.

Legal adjective 'inadmissible'

8

The poem captures the ephemeral nature of the child's joy.

Le poème capture la nature éphémère de la joie de l'enfant.

Literary register

常见搭配

only child
young child
child development
child labor
child abuse
child care
child prodigy
child support
child safety
gifted child

常用短语

child's play

with child

inner child

only child

poster child

child of God

child of the 80s

problem child

wild child

child at heart

容易混淆的词

child vs Kid

Informal vs formal.

child vs Toddler

Specific age (1-3) vs general.

child vs Infant

Very young (under 1) vs general.

习语与表达

"Child's play"

Something that is very easy to do.

"A child of nature"

Someone who is simple and natural.

"Like a kid in a candy store"

Very excited about something.

"Spare the rod and spoil the child"

If you don't punish a child, they will be spoiled.

"The child is father to the man"

Adult character is formed in childhood.

"Burning the midnight oil"

Not related to child, but often used by students.

"Burn the candle at both ends"

Not related to child.

"A poster child for"

A perfect example of something.

"With child"

Pregnant (archaic/formal).

"Monday's child"

Part of a nursery rhyme about character.

容易混淆

child vs

child vs

child vs

child vs

child vs

句型

如何使用

age

'Child' usually stops at 12-13 socially, but 18 legally.

formality

'Kid' is informal.

plural error

Don't say 'childs'.

常见错误
  • Saying 'two childs' instead of 'two children'.
  • Using 'childish' when you mean 'childlike'.
  • Using 'kid' in a formal academic essay.
  • Forgetting the apostrophe in 'children's'.
  • Calling a newborn a 'child' (usually 'baby' or 'infant' is better).

小贴士

Plural Mastery

Always remember 'children'. It is one of the most common irregular plurals in English. Practice saying it until it feels natural.

Childish vs Childlike

Use 'childlike' to compliment someone's wonder. Use 'childish' to criticize someone's immaturity. This is a common B2/C1 distinction.

Casual vs Formal

Use 'kid' when talking to friends about your family. Use 'child' when speaking to your boss or writing a report.

Possessive Check

Check your apostrophes. 'Child's' is for one, 'children's' is for many. Never write 'childrens' without an apostrophe.

Context Clues

If you hear 'child' in a hospital, it's a medical term. In a house, it's a family term. In a court, it's a legal term.

Politeness

In some cultures, calling a young adult a 'child' is very offensive. Be careful with the age of the person you are describing.

Word Family

Learn 'childhood' and 'childcare' at the same time. They are very common compound words and derivatives.

Easy Tasks

Use 'It's child's play' when you want to say something is extremely easy. It makes your English sound more natural.

Silent Letters

The 'l' in child is pronounced, but it is soft. Make sure you don't skip it entirely when speaking.

Offspring

Use 'child' for humans. For animals, use 'offspring' or specific names like 'puppy' or 'kitten'.

记住它

词源

Old English

文化背景

Age of majority is usually 18.

Focus on filial piety and respect for elders.

Focus on independence and play.

在生活中练习

真实语境

对话开场白

"Do you have any children?"

"What were you like as a child?"

"Is this a good place for a child to play?"

"How many children are in your family?"

"What is your favorite memory from when you were a child?"

日记主题

Describe your favorite toy as a child.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

Write about a lesson you learned as a child.

How has the world changed since you were a child?

Describe a place that made you feel safe as a child.

常见问题

10 个问题

Yes, 'child' can refer to a boy or a girl. It is a gender-neutral term used to describe a young human being.

The plural of child is 'children'. It is an irregular plural, meaning it doesn't follow the standard rule of adding '-s'.

Yes, in a relational sense. An adult is still the 'child' of their parents. It can also be used as an insult to mean immature.

It is an idiom that means something is very easy to do, like a game a child would play.

Legally, this usually happens at age 18. Biologically, it happens after puberty. Socially, it varies by culture.

No, 'kid' is not rude, but it is informal. It is best to use 'child' in professional or formal writing.

'Childish' is negative and means immature. 'Childlike' is positive and means having innocent or good qualities of a child.

You add an apostrophe and an 's' to the end: 'children's'. For example, 'the children's room'.

An 'only child' is someone who has no brothers or sisters.

Childcare refers to the care of children by a day-care center, babysitter, or other provider while parents are working.

自我测试 180 个问题

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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