Definitions

ér (noun) child; son
r (particle) diminutive suffix

Etymology

Simplified form of . Variant form of , a pictograph of a human.

About

The character "儿" originates from the traditional form "兒", which etymologically represented a young child with an open fontanelle. Structurally, "兒" is composed of "臼", symbolizing the head, and "儿", depicting legs, though the simplified form retains only the latter component. Initially denoting "child" or "son", the character's meaning shifted to also serve as a colloquial nominal suffix in modern Mandarin, modifying words without altering core definitions.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Spring and Autumn (~600 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的子五岁。

Wǒ de érzi wǔ suì.

My son is five years old.

她有一个女

Tā yǒu yī gè nǚ'ér.

She has a daughter.

很漂亮。

Zhèr hěn piàoliang.

Here is very beautiful.

童喜欢玩具。

Értóng xǐhuān wánjù.

Children like toys.

小明在公园玩

Xiǎo Míng zài gōngyuán wánr.

Xiao Ming is playing in the park.

那个小男孩很聪明。

Nàge xiǎo nán háir hěn cōngmíng.

That little boy is very smart.

在春天开放。

Huār zài chūntīan kāifàng.

Flowers bloom in spring.

子和女都去上学了。

Érzi hé nǚ'ér dōu qù shàngxué le.

Both son and daughter have gone to school.