外甥

wàisheng

noun HSK 6 #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

HSK 1

我外甥今年上小学了。

Wǒ wàisheng jīnnián shàng xiǎoxué le.

My nephew started elementary school this year.

HSK 3

外甥长得很像他妈妈。

Wàisheng 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