小孩
xiǎohái
In Chinese, the English phrase 'kid' is translated using 小孩 (xiǎohái) or 孩子.
Meaning: child (colloq.) (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 小孩 | xiǎohái |
| 孩子 | háizi |
Both terms are used to refer to a child. 孩子 is a neutral way to say 'child' or 'kid' and is frequently used as a term of endearment or a way to address a younger person. 小孩 is often used to refer to a 'little child'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 小孩 literally means 'little child'.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean 'kid', 孩子 is a more neutral term and can specifically refer to one's own offspring. In contrast, 小孩 often emphasizes the child's smallness or young age.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural form 'kids', you can add the suffix 们 to the end of 孩子 to get 孩子们.
How do you pronounce it?
xiǎohái
Did you know?
- In some dialects, calling a child a 小鬼 literally means 'little ghost' or 'little demon' and is often used as a playful term of endearment for a mischievous kid.
- There is a concept called 孩子气 which literally means 'child air' or 'child gas' to describe someone with a childish temperament.
- In Chinese, you can use 孩子 to refer to your adult children, regardless of their age. A 50-year-old is still the 孩子 of their parents.
Examples in context
- 這是誰的孩子?Whose kid is this?This sentence is useful for asking about the ownership of a 孩子.Tatoeba #13259257 by mimosawang, translation #13635704 by frpzzd
- 汤姆是聪明的孩子。Tom is a clever kid.This sentence is useful for describing a 孩子 with a specific quality.Tatoeba #5072261 by musclegirlxyp, translation #5082232 by zvzuibqx
- 孩子，不要碰那面鏡子！Kid, don't touch the mirror!This sentence is useful for addressing a 孩子 directly.Tatoeba #5455279 by egg0073, translation #1503467 by marcelostockle
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two neighbors are talking about a child playing in the park.
- 伟 Wei那個小孩真可愛。nà ge xiǎo hái zhēn kě ài.That kid is really cute.
- 梓涵 Zihan對啊，他在草地上跑。duì a, tā zài cǎo dì shàng pǎo.Yes, he is running on the grass.
- 伟 Wei他是你的小孩嗎？tā shì nǐ de xiǎo hái ma?Is he your kid?
- 梓涵 Zihan不是，他是鄰居家的。bú shì, tā shì lín jū jiā de.No, he is the neighbor's.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kid” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
