小家伙
xiǎojiāhuo
The English phrase "little one" can be translated into Chinese as 小家伙 (xiǎojiāhuo).
小家伙 is used to refer to a young child, but it is also very commonly used to affectionately refer to small animals, such as puppies or kittens.
Meaning: young child (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 小 (xiǎo, little) and 家伙 (jiāhuo, fellow/guy/thing).
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English "little one" which can sometimes sound tender or even slightly patronizing, 小家伙 often carries a sense of "little rascal" or "little fellow" depending on the tone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
小家伙 is a colloquial and affectionate term rather than a formal way to address a child. For a formal way to refer to a child or a young person, you might use 孩童. In informal settings, you may also use 宝贝 to mean treasure or darling or 宝宝 as an affectionate term for a little one.
How do you pronounce it?
xiǎojiāhuo
Did you know?
- The word 家伙 originally referred to tools or implements, making the phrase 'little fellow' etymologically similar to calling someone a 'little tool'.
- In certain contexts, calling a person a 家伙 can actually sound quite aggressive or even rude, rather than affectionate.
- In some dialects or informal slang, the character 小 can be added to many nouns to create a sense of intimacy, a pattern much broader than just 'little one'.
Examples in context
- 小家伙，你在看什么？What are you looking at, little one?This sentence is useful for seeing how to address a child or animal as 小家伙.Tatoeba #759304 by GlossaMatik, translation #4736910 by paper1n0
- 来，宝贝，我给你买糖果Come here, little one, I'll buy you some candies.
- 晚安，我的宝宝Goodnight, my little one.
- 这个小家伙真可爱。zhège xiǎo jiāhuo zhēn kě'ài.This little one is really cute.
- 小家伙，快点吃饭。xiǎo jiāhuo, kuài diǎn chīfàn.Little one, eat up quickly.
Example conversation
Junjie and Xiaowen are visiting a friend's new baby.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen快看，这个小家伙真可爱。Kuài kàn, zhège xiǎo jiāhuo zhēn kě'ài.Look, this little one is so cute.
- 俊杰 Junjie他的眼睛很大。Tā de yǎnjīng hěn dà.His eyes are very big.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen他好像在对我笑。Tā hǎoxiàng zài duì wǒ xiào.It seems like he is smiling at me.
- 俊杰 Junjie他确实很讨人喜欢。Tā quèshí hěn tǎo rén xǐhuan.He really is lovable.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
