子孙 zǐsūn offspring
offspring; posterity
How to remember 子孙: 子 child + 孙 grandchild = offspring.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Descendants, posterity' - 子孙后代 (zǐsūn hòudài) future generations; 炎黄子孙 (Yánhuáng zǐsūn) descendants of the Yellow Emperor, i.e. the Chinese people.
- Spans children, grandchildren, and beyond as a lineage, not just one's own kids.
- Somewhat formal/weighty, common when talking about heritage, ancestors, and what we leave behind.