坐月子 (zuòyuèzi): to undergo the traditional mont…

Meanings

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

Characters

坐

Examples

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.

坐月子期间不能洗头，这是老一辈的说法。

Zuòyuèzi qījiān bù néng xǐtóu, zhè shì lǎo yíbèi de shuōfǎ.

You can't wash your hair during confinement, that's what the older generation says.

她请了一个月嫂来帮忙坐月子。

Tā qǐng le yí ge 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.'