小朋友 xiǎopéngyǒu child
child; kid (used to refer to a child, or by an adult to address a child, or, in Taiwan, to refer to somebody's own child)
How to remember 小朋友: 小 small + 朋 friend + 友 friend = child.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Child, kid' - warm word adults use to address or refer to children: 小朋友，你几岁了? (xiǎopéngyou, nǐ jǐ suì le?) little one, how old are you?
- Literally 'little friend'; friendlier and more affectionate than the plain 孩子 (háizi, child).
Example sentences
- 那个小朋友在弄什么？ Nàge xiǎopéngyou zài nòng shénme?What's that small child doing?
- 小朋友们依次排队上车。 Xiǎo péngyǒumen yīcì páiduì shàngchē.The children line up to board the school bus.