Chinese word

养子

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǎng zi

Meaning

  • nounadopted son

Example

他们有一个养子。tā men yǒu yí gè yǎng zi

They have an adopted son.

Illustration for 养子 (adopted son)

More examples

他很爱这个养子，每天照顾他。tā hěn ài zhè ge yǎng zi měi tiān zhào gù tā

He loves this adopted son dearly and looks after him every day.

Core concept

A son who joins a family through care and belonging rather than birth.

Common phrases

  • 有一个养子yǒu yí gè yǎng zi

    have an adopted son

  • 照顾养子zhào gù yǎng zi

    look after an adopted son

  • 成为养子chéng wéi yǎng zi

    become an adopted son

Similar words

养女yáng nǚ: A daughter adopted and raised as part of a family.
养父母yǎng fù mǔ: Parents who adopt a child and raise that child as part of their family.
亲生子qīn shēng zi: A child born to their biological parents.

Definition in Chinese

由非亲生父母收养，在家庭中抚养长大的孩子。yóu fēi qīn shēng fù mǔ shōu yǎng zài jiā tíng zhōng fú yǎng zhǎng dà de hái zi

Word origin

The compound 养 (yǎng, "raise") + 子 (zǐ, "child") forms 养子 (yǎngzi, "adopted son"), framing the family relationship through the child's upbringing rather than birth.

Usage tips

  • The word points to adoption rather than temporary foster care, so "foster son" is not an automatic English equivalent.

Opposites

  • 亲生子女qīn shēng zí nǚbiological childrennoun

Word lists with this word