Definitions
(noun)
child; son
(noun)
small thing
(particle)
(noun suffix)
Etymology
Pictograph of a small child with its two arms waving.
About
The character "子" originated as a pictograph depicting an infant with a large head and outstretched arms, representing its core meaning of "child" or "offspring". Over time, its usage broadened semantically to denote descendants and progeny in a general sense, and it later evolved into a term of respect for esteemed men, as seen in honorifics like Confucius (孔子). This expansion of meaning also led to its grammaticalization as a nominal suffix used to form abstract nouns or to denote small objects. In its traditional form, the character is written with three strokes, maintaining a clear structural resemblance to its earliest pictographic origins, and it frequently serves as a radical in other characters related to children or familial concepts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个孩子很聪明。
我的儿子在上学。
请把书放在桌子上。
农民正在播种种子。
士兵小心地装填子弹。
水分子由两个氢原子组成。
现代手机使用电子支付。
量子物理学研究微观粒子行为。