子

zi

HSK 3

子 — zi

1. noun suffix used to form nouns (e.g. 椅子 'chair')

   椅子是用来坐的家具。 yǐzi shì yònglái zuò de jiājù — A chair is a piece of furniture used for sitting.

子 — zǐ

1. son; child

   这个孩子很聪明。 zhège háizi hěn cōngmíng — This child is very clever.

2. seed; egg; small thing

   一颗种子可以长成大树。 yīkē zhǒngzi kěyǐ zhǎngchéng dàshù — A single seed can grow into a big tree.

3. first earthly branch; time period (11 p.m.–1 a.m.); midnight; 11th lunar month; year of the rat

   子时大约是晚上十一点到一点。 zi shí dàyuē shì wǎnshàng shíyìdiǎn dào yìdiǎn — The zishi period is roughly from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

4. viscount (fourth of five noble ranks)

   古代的子爵是五等爵位之一。 gǔdài de zijué shì wǔděng juéwèi zhīyī — In ancient times a viscount was one of the five noble ranks.

5. compass point: north (0°)

   罗盘上的子位正指向北方。 luópán shàng de zi wèi zhèng zhǐxiàng běifāng — The 'zi' position on the compass points due north.

6. subsidiary; subordinate

   这是一个子公司，隶属于总公司。 zhè shì yígè zigōngsī lìshǔyú zǒnggōngsī — This is a subsidiary company, subordinate to the parent company.

7. (prefix) sub-, indicating a subordinate or smaller thing

   子部门表示在主部门之下的小部门。 zi bùmén biǎoshì zài zhǔ bùmén zhīxià de xiǎo bùmén — 'Sub-department' denotes a department under the main department.