小孩儿 xiǎoháir child; kid (spoken, erhua)
How to remember 小孩儿: 小 small + 孩 child + 儿 son = child; kid (spoken, erhua).
Characters
How it is used
- A child / kid - erhua form of 小孩 (xiǎohái): 那个小孩儿真可爱 (nàge xiǎoháir zhēn kě'ài) that kid is adorable.
- Colloquial; 儿童 (értóng) is the more formal 'children' seen on signs and in writing.
- The 儿 suffix is a northern speech habit; 小孩 works without it too.
Example sentences
- 小孩儿不能在这条河里游泳。 Xiǎoháiér bùnéng zài zhètiáo hélǐ yóuyǒng.Children can't swim in this river.
- 连小孩儿都会做。 Lián xiǎoháiér dōu huì zuò.Even a child could do it.