ér tóng
child; children
这些儿童正在玩耍。
zhèxiē értóng zhèngzài wánshuǎ.
These children are playing.
儿童需要更多的关注和照顾。
értóng xūyào gèngduō de guānzhù hé zhàogù.
Children need more attention and care.
儿童是国家的未来。
értóng shì guójiā de wèilái.
Children are the future of the country.
小孩 (xiǎohái)
child
孩子 (háizi)
child
成人 (chéng rén)
adult
老人 (lǎo rén)
old person
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The Chinese word 儿童 (ér tóng) for "children" is composed of two characters: 儿 (ér) and 童 (tóng). The character 儿 (ér) originally meant "a child" or "a son", and it is still used in this sense today. The character 童 (tóng) originally meant "a young person" or "a servant", but it is now used almost exclusively in the compound word 儿童. The combination of these two characters creates a word that specifically refers to children, and it is commonly used in both formal and informal settings.
