独子

獨子

dúzǐ

noun #21,806

Measure Word

一个独子 gè

Meanings

1 only son
2 a son who is an only child

Characters

alone; single; only

Examples

他是家里的独子，父母对他寄予厚望。

Tā shì jiālǐ de dúzǐ, fùmǔ duì tā jìyǔ hòuwàng.

He is the only son in the family, and his parents have high hopes for him.

在独生子女政策下，很多家庭只有一个独子。

Zài dúshēng zǐnǚ zhèngcè xià, hěn duō jiātíng zhǐyǒu yī gè dúzǐ.

Under the one-child policy, many families had only one son.

这位皇帝的独子年仅五岁就登基了。

Zhè wèi huángdì de dúzǐ nián jǐn wǔ suì jiù dēngjī le.

This emperor's only son ascended the throne at just five years old.

Tips

culture

In traditional Chinese culture, having a son — and especially an only son — to carry on the family name was considered crucial. 独子 often carries connotations of both great parental hope and significant pressure on the child.

Stroke Order

独 dú

子 zǐ