Meaning and Usage
"子女" specifically refers to one's children, encompassing both sons and daughters. It is a formal term often used in written and spoken Chinese when discussing family matters, legal contexts, or education.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "子女" in contexts related to family, inheritance, education, and social policies. It is more formal than simply saying "孩子" (children) and emphasizes the relationship of offspring to their parents.
Collocations and Patterns
- 子女教育 (education of children): a common phrase emphasizing the importance of raising and educating children.
- 子女抚养 (raising children): used in legal or social contexts about child support or custody.
- 子女健康 (children's health): often used in healthcare or family discussions.
Usage Notes
"子女" is gender-neutral and collective, referring to all children regardless of gender. It is more formal than "儿女" or "孩子" and is often used in official documents or formal speech. Avoid confusing it with "儿子" (son) or "女儿" (daughter), which specify gender.
Common Confusion
Learners sometimes confuse "子女" with "儿女"; both mean children but "子女" is slightly more formal and neutral, while "儿女" is more colloquial and often used in everyday speech.