外甥

wàishēng

noun #9,221

Measure Word

一个外甥 gè

Meanings

1 nephew (sister's son)
2 nephew (on the mother's side)

Characters

outside; external; maternal side

nephew (sister's son)

Examples

我外甥今年上小学了。

Wǒ wàishēng jīnnián shàng xiǎoxué le.

My nephew started elementary school this year.

外甥长得很像他妈妈。

Wàishēng zhǎng de hěn xiàng tā māma.

The nephew looks a lot like his mother.

Tips

mistakes

外甥 is specifically your sister's son (maternal side). Your brother's son is 侄子 (zhízi). Chinese kinship terms distinguish maternal and paternal sides.

memory

外 means 'outside/external' — relatives on the mother's side are considered 'outside' the father's family line. So 外甥 = the 'outside' nephew.

Stroke Order

外 wài

甥 shēng