yīng'ér: 婴儿 - Infant, Baby

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• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 婴儿 (yīng'ér), the formal and technical term for an “infant” or “baby,” typically from birth to one year old. This page explores its meaning, character origins, and crucial cultural context. Discover how 婴儿 (yīng'ér) differs from the more common and affectionate term 宝宝 (bǎobao) and when to use it correctly in medical, commercial, or formal conversations about babies in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yīng'ér
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: An infant; a baby, especially one under a year old.
• In a Nutshell: 婴儿 (yīng'ér) is the specific, and somewhat formal, word for an infant. Think of it as the word you'd see on product packaging (like “infant formula”), in a hospital nursery, or read in a parenting book. While English speakers might use “baby” and “infant” interchangeably, in Chinese, 婴儿 (yīng'ér) is less of a term of endearment and more of a technical or descriptive label for a child in their first year of life. For everyday affection, parents almost always use 宝宝 (bǎobao).

• 婴 (yīng): This character means “infant” or “baby.” The top part originally depicted shell-money necklaces, and the bottom `女 (nǚ)` means “woman” or “female.” The combination suggests a precious being associated with a woman—a baby.
• 儿 (ér): This character means “child” or “son.” It's also frequently used as a noun suffix (the “er-ization” or `儿化音, érhuàyīn`) to make words sound smaller or more familiar, although here it functions as part of the core word.
• Together, 婴儿 (yīng'ér) literally translates to “infant-child,” creating a specific term for the earliest stage of childhood.

In Chinese culture, the arrival of an 婴儿 (yīng'ér) is a monumental family event, deeply tied to concepts of lineage, continuity, and filial piety. The infant represents the future of the family and, historically, was the carrier of the family name. This focus was intensified during the decades of the one-child policy, where a single infant often became the center of attention for two parents and four grandparents, a phenomenon sometimes called “Little Emperor Syndrome.” A key cultural tradition is the 满月 (mǎnyuè), or “full moon,” celebration. This is a party held when the infant turns one month old, marking the end of the fragile newborn period for both mother and child. Friends and family gather to give gifts (often in red envelopes, `红包 hóngbāo`) and celebrate the baby's health. Compared