Chinese word

养女

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǎng nǚ

Meaning

  • nounadopted daughter

Example

她是他的养女。tā shì tā de yáng nǚ

She is his adopted daughter.

Illustration for 养女 (adopted daughter)

More examples

他总是对养女很关心。tā zǒng shì duì yáng nǚ hěn guān xīn

He always cares a lot about his adopted daughter.

Core concept

A daughter defined by another person taking responsibility for raising her, whether through law or family practice.

Common phrases

  • 他的养女tā de yáng nǚ

    his adopted daughter

  • 对养女好duì yáng nǚ hǎo

    treat adopted daughter well

Similar words

被领养的女儿bèi líng yǎng de nǚ ér: A daughter who becomes part of a family through a formal adoption.
寄养的女儿jì yǎng de nǚ ér: A daughter placed with a family or facility to live there for a limited time.
继女jì nǚ: A daughter who joins a family through a parent's marriage and lives there as a daughter.

Definition in Chinese

由他人收养并承担抚养责任的女儿，既可指正式收养也可指事实抚养关系。yóu tā rén shōu yǎng bìng chéng dān fú yǎng zé rèn de nǚ ér jì kě zhǐ zhèng shì shōu yǎng yě kě zhǐ shì shí fú yǎng guān xì

Word origin

养女 (yǎngnǚ, "adopted daughter") combines 养 (yǎng, "raise and support") with 女 (nǚ, "daughter"), making care and family status the focus.

Usage tips

  • English adoption language usually suggests a legal process, but this Chinese term can also describe a daughter raised in the family when the legal status is not being discussed.

Opposites

  • 亲生女儿qīn shēng nǚ érbiological daughternoun

Word lists with this word