甥

shēng

生 + 男

Definitions

shēng (bound form) sister's son; nephew

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 男 represents the meaning and 生 represents the sound.

Semantic: 男 Phonetic: 生

About

甥 is a phono-semantic compound denoting a nephew, specifically a sister's son. The right-side component 男 ('male') supplies the meaning, while the left-side component 生 indicates the pronunciation. The character precisely distinguishes a sister's male child from a brother's offspring within the Chinese kinship system, and it carries no extended or abstract uses.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是我的外甥。

Zhè shì wǒ de wàisheng.

This is my nephew.

我姐姐的儿子是我的外甥。

Wǒ jiějie de érzi shì wǒ de wàisheng.

My sister's son is my nephew.

我的外甥很喜欢玩足球。

Wǒ de wàisheng hěn xǐhuan wán zúqiú.

My nephew really likes to play soccer.

舅舅给外甥买了一个新书包。

Jiùjiu gěi wàisheng mǎi le yī gè xīn shūbāo.

The uncle bought a new schoolbag for his nephew.

我外甥女的头发很长很漂亮。

Wǒ shēngnǚ de tóufa hěn cháng hěn piàoliang.

My niece's hair is very long and beautiful.

我的外甥今年考上了大学。

Wǒ de wàisheng jīnnián kǎoshàng le dàxué.

My nephew was admitted to university this year.

我外甥的生日派对很热闹。

Wǒ wàisheng de shēngrì pàiduì hěn rènao.

My nephew's birthday party was very lively.

看到外甥健康成长是我最大的欣慰。

Kàndào wàisheng jiànkāng chéngzhǎng shì wǒ zuì dà de xīnwèi.

Seeing my nephew grow up healthy is my greatest comfort.

Related Characters

Component: 生

Component: 男

甥