孩

hái

亥 + 子

Definitions

hái (noun) child

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 子 represents the meaning and 亥 represents the sound.

Semantic: 子 Phonetic: 亥

About

The character 孩 is a phonosemantic compound: the left component 子, meaning 'child', gives the semantic category, while the right component 亥 provides the pronunciation. In its earliest usage, 孩 referred narrowly to very young infants who were starting to smile or laugh. Over time, the meaning broadened to include children of any age. In modern Chinese, 孩 is primarily found in compound words for youth, childhood, and offspring, with the radical 子 persistently linking it to the concept of human progeny.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个孩子很可爱。

Zhège háizi hěn kě'ài.

This child is very cute.

邻居家的孩子在上小学。

Línjū jiā de háizi zài shàng xiǎoxué.

The neighbor's child is in elementary school.

小女孩喜欢在公园里玩耍。

Xiǎo nǚhái xǐhuan zài gōngyuán lǐ wánshuǎ.

The little girl likes to play in the park.

每个孩子都应该有一个快乐的童年。

Měi gè háizi dōu yīnggāi yǒu yīgè kuàilè de tóngnián.

Every child should have a happy childhood.

这些孩子们正在认真学习。

Zhèxiē háizimen zhèngzài rènzhēn xuéxí.

These children are studying hard.

那个男孩长大后想成为一名科学家。

Nàgè nánhái zhǎng dà hòu xiǎng chéngwéi yī míng kēxué jiā.

That boy wants to become a scientist when he grows up.

照顾年幼的孩子需要极大的耐心。

Zhàogù niányòu de háizi xūyào jí dà de nàixīn.

Taking care of young children requires great patience.

她孩童时代的记忆总是那么清晰而温暖。

Tā háitóng shídài de jìyì zǒng shì nàme qīngxī ér wēnnuǎn.

Her childhood memories are always so clear and warm.

Related Characters

Component: 亥

Component: 子

孩