Learn a Chinese Character - 孩 (Hái - Child; kid; baby)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 子/zǐ (child)

Stroke Count: 9 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Hái (Second tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Child; kid; baby

Extended Meaning: Young; immature; offspring

Additional Meaning: Term of endearment for young ones

4. Common Words

• 孩子 (hái zi) - Child
  Example: 这个孩子很聪明。(Zhè ge hái zi hěn cōng ming.) - This child is very smart.
• 男孩 (nán hái) - Boy
  Example: 那个男孩在跑步。(Nà ge nán hái zài pǎo bù.) - That boy is running.
• 女孩 (nǚ hái) - Girl
  Example: 女孩喜欢跳舞。(Nǚ hái xǐ huan tiào wǔ.) - The girl likes dancing.
• 小孩 (xiǎo hái) - Young child
  Example: 公园里有很多小孩。(Gōng yuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō xiǎo hái.) - There are many young children in the park.
• 孩童 (hái tóng) - Child (more formal)
  Example: 这些孩童正在学习画画。(Zhè xiē hái tóng zhèng zài xué xí huà huà.) - These children are learning to draw.

5. Grammar & Usage

As a Noun:

• Used to refer to children of any age, from infants to teenagers
• Can be used alone but is more commonly used in compounds

Common Structures:

• X孩 (X hái) - Child of X type (e.g., 男孩 nán hái - boy, 女孩 nǚ hái - girl)
• 孩X (hái X) - Child-related (e.g., 孩子 hái zi - child, 孩童 hái tóng - child)

Usage Notes:

• Neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts
• Can be used affectionately when referring to someone young

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character 孩 (hái) carries significant meaning related to family and lineage. Traditionally, children were highly valued as they represented the continuation of the family line and the future of the household.

The radical 子 (zǐ) which means 'child' is a key component of many characters related to children and parenting in Chinese. This reflects the importance placed on family structure in Chinese society.

In modern China, while the cultural emphasis on children remains strong, there have been changes in family size and structure due to historical policies like the one-child policy and evolving societal norms. However, the character 孩 (hái) continues to be central in discussions about childhood, parenting, and family life.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Component Breakdown: The character 孩 consists of 子 (zǐ, child) and 亥 (hài). Remember that 子 is the radical meaning 'child,' and 亥 helps with pronunciation.

2. Visual Association: Imagine a small child (子) with a round head (亥) - this can help you visualize the character.

3. Pronunciation Link: The pinyin 'hái' rhymes with the English word 'high' but with a rising tone.

4. Common Word Association: Learn the word 孩子 (hái zi) first, as it's the most common compound with 孩 and will help reinforce your memory of both the character and its meaning.

5. Stroke Order Practice: Pay attention to the stroke order, especially the way the 子 radical is written within the character.