小女孩
xiǎonǚhái
In Chinese, the phrase 'little girl' is expressed as 小女孩 (xiǎonǚhái). Wiktionary also lists 女孩子 (nǚháizi) and 小姑娘 (xiǎogūniang).
Meaning: a female child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 小女孩 | xiǎonǚhái |
| 女孩子 | nǚháizi |
| 小姑娘 | xiǎogūniang |
These terms are used to refer to a female child.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 小女孩 is composed of 小 (small/little), 女 (female) and 孩 (child).
Which one should you use?
小女孩 is more descriptive and neutral than 小姑娘. In contrast, 女孩子 refers to a 'girl' in general and does not inherently imply the child is 'little'. 小姑娘 is a more colloquial and affectionate way to refer to a young girl.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
小姑娘 is an informal way to say little girl. Another informal way to refer to a young girl is 小妹妹, which is an informal way to say little sister or refer to a young girl.
How do you pronounce it?
xiǎonǚhái
When do people say it?
The term 小姑娘 can be used by older people to address young women in a somewhat patronizing or endearing way.
Did you know?
- The character 女 for female is a pictograph that originally depicted a woman kneeling in a traditional posture of modesty.
- The term 姑娘 (gūniang) can actually mean 'young lady' or 'maiden' in certain historical or regional contexts, moving far beyond the concept of a 'little girl'.
- If you use 小姑娘 toward a stranger, the tone of your voice and your social status can completely change it from a sweet compliment to a condescending remark.
Examples in context
- 你看著像箇小女孩。You look like a little girl.This sentence shows how to use 小女孩 to say someone looks like a little girl.Tatoeba #5650454 by verdastelo9604, translation #3361845 by CM
- 那个小女孩打开了窗户。The little girl opened the window.This sentence uses 小女孩 to describe a girl opening a window.Tatoeba #5068346 by FeAst, translation #5068286 by jhomel
- 這個小女孩住在巴西。The little girl lived in Brazil.This sentence uses 小女孩 to state where a little girl lived.Tatoeba #881722 by Martha, translation #875877 by anthearuiz
- 小女孩, 你好可爱！Little girl, you are so adorable!
- 这个小姑娘真聪明。This little girl is really smart.
- 她是个年幼的小女孩。She is a young little girl.
- 这个小姑娘是我妹妹。This little girl is my sister.
- 我认识一个很漂亮的小女孩。I know a very beautiful little girl.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are at a park watching children play.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那个小女孩在跑步。Nàge xiǎo nǚhái zài pǎobù.That little girl is running.
- 志强 Zhiqiang她跑得很快。Tā pǎo de hěn kuài.She runs very fast.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen她看起来很开心。Tā kàn qǐlái hěn kāixīn.She looks very happy.
- 志强 Zhiqiang是个可爱的小女孩。Shì gè kě'ài de xiǎo nǚhái.She is a cute little girl.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “little girl” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
