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坐月子

zuòyuèzi
verb

Meanings

  1. 1 to undergo the traditional month of postpartum confinement
  2. 2 to follow a month of special diet and restrictions after childbirth to protect the body from 'wind' and cold

Examples

HSK 2
她生完孩子在家坐月子。
Tā shēng wán háizi zài jiā zuòyuèzi.
After giving birth she's doing her month of postpartum confinement at home.
HSK 5
坐月子期间不能洗头，这是老一辈的说法。
Zuòyuèzi qījiān bùnéng xǐtóu, zhè shì lǎoyíbèi de shuōfǎ.
You can't wash your hair during confinement, that's what the older generation says.
HSK 7-9
她请了一个月嫂来帮忙坐月子。
Tā qǐng le yíge yuèsǎo lái bāngmáng zuòyuèzi.
She hired a postpartum nanny to help through the confinement month.

Tips

culture
A traditional Chinese practice lasting roughly 30 days (or 42 in some regions) after childbirth: no cold food, no cold water, limited bathing, no going outside, eating specific tonic dishes. Younger urban mothers increasingly negotiate which rules they'll follow, often with pushback from mothers-in-law. Related: 月子中心 (postpartum hotel), 月嫂 (postpartum nanny).
mistakes
子 here is neutral tone (zi), not the third-tone zǐ meaning 'son.' 月子 together means 'the month of confinement.'

Stroke Order

坐 zuò
月 yuè
子 zǐ