Chinese word

独生子女

Pronunciation

Pinyindú shēng zǐ nǚ

Meaning

  • nounonly child

Example

独生子女常常受到很多关注。dú shēng zí nǚ cháng cháng shòu dào hěn duō guān zhù

Only children often get a lot of attention.

Illustration for 独生子女 (only child)

More examples

独生子女在学校里也能交到很多朋友。dú shēng zí nǚ zài xué xiào lǐ yě néng jiāo dào hěn duō péng yǒu

Only children can also make many friends at school.

Core concept

The one child who fills the family place that siblings would otherwise share.

Common phrases

  • 作为独生子女zuò wéi dú shēng zí nǚ

    as an only child

  • 独生子女的父母dú shēng zí nǚ de fù mǔ

    parents of an only child

Similar words

独生子dú shēng zi: A boy who has no brothers or sisters and is the only child in his family.
独生女dú shēng nǚ: A girl who has no brothers or sisters and is the only child in her family.

Definition in Chinese

在家庭中没有兄弟姐妹，是家里唯一的孩子。zài jiā tíng zhōng méi yǒu xiōng dì jiě mèi shì jiā lǐ wéi yī de hái zi

Word origin

独 (dú, "alone") and 生 (shēng, "be born") describe a single birth, and 子 (zǐ, "child") + 女 (nǚ, "female") names children generally rather than one sex.

Usage tips

  • The term is gender-neutral and can refer to either a son or a daughter when gender is not the focus.

Related words

  • 独生子女政策dú shēng zí nǚ zhèng cèone-child policynoun

Word lists with this word