How to Say "Little Boy" in Chinese

小男孩

xiǎonánhái

The English phrase "little boy" is translated into Chinese as 小男孩 (xiǎonánhái). Wiktionary also lists 男孩 (nánhái) and 男孩兒 / 男孩儿 (nánháir).

Meaning: a diminutive male child (noun)

Ways to say it

The term is used to describe a diminutive male child. Adding the prefix to the word for boy emphasizes the child's youth or smallness.

小男孩 is composed of 小 (xiǎo), meaning 'small' or 'little' and 男孩 (nánhái), meaning 'boy'.

While 男孩 means 'boy', using 小男孩 specifically emphasizes the child's smallness or youth, translating more precisely to 'little boy'.

小男孩 is a noun phrase that can be used as a subject or an object in a sentence without changing its form.

xiǎonánhái

In traditional Chinese culture, the term 小男孩 was often replaced by specific birth-order names or nicknames to avoid attracting evil spirits by calling a child directly.
The character 男 (nán) in 男孩 is composed of two parts: 'field' (田) and 'strength' (力), reflecting the historical association of men with physical labor in the fields.
In modern Chinese internet slang, the term 小男孩 can be used to describe an adult man who retains a childish or innocent personality.

這小男孩怕黑。
The little boy is afraid of the dark.
This sentence shows how to use 小男孩 to describe a boy's fear.
Tatoeba #6071002 by verdastelo9604, translation #47504 by CK
汤姆是个小男孩。
Tom is a little boy.
This sentence uses 小男孩 to identify someone's age or status.
Tatoeba #10696091 by GlossaMatik, translation #10620828 by belvis
那個小男孩會走路。
That little boy can walk.
This sentence uses 小男孩 as the subject to describe an ability.
Tatoeba #3713845 by egg0073, translation #3962737 by JSakuragi
她看到一个幼童在公园里玩耍。
She saw a little boy playing in the park.
我昨天看到一个可爱的小男孩在街上跑来跑去。
Yesterday, I saw an adorable little boy running around on the street.
9 more sentences on Tatoeba

At a park, a woman is watching her nephew play.

梓涵 Zihan

那個小男孩在跑。
Nàge xiǎonánhái zài pǎo.
That little boy is running.
俊杰 Junjie

他是你的侄子嗎？
Tā shì nǐ de zhízi ma?
Is he your nephew?
梓涵 Zihan

對，那小男孩很調皮。
Duì, nà xiǎonánhái hěn tiáopí.
Yes, that little boy is very naughty.
俊杰 Junjie

他看起來很開心。
Tā kàn qǐlái hěn kāixīn.
He looks very happy.

Sources

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