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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Child: Definition, Examples, and Common Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：young person (child)

child 🔊

/tʃaɪld/

a young person, usually under 18, often a kid playing or studying.

young person 🔊

➕

/jʌŋ ˈpɜːrsən/

A young human being, typically under the age of 18, who is still growing and developing.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'cild', meaning 'fetus, infant, child', akin to Gothic 'kilþei' (womb).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a 'child' laughing as they 'chase' a ball — the 'ch' sound mimics the joy of youth.

📖 Example

The child was building a sandcastle on the sunny beach, laughing with joy. 🔊 The young person was constructing a sandcastle on the sunny beach, laughing happily.

🔗 Collocations

child development – the process of growth and maturation in young humans

child safety – measures and rules to protect young people from harm

child welfare – the health, happiness, and well-being of children

🔄 Synonyms

kid (n.) – an informal term for a child, often used in everyday speech

youngster (n.) – a young person, especially one in the early stages of life

minor (n.) – a person under the legal age of adulthood, typically 18

🚫 Antonyms

adult (n.) – a person who is fully grown or developed, typically over 18

elder (n.) – an older person, often respected for age and wisdom

📖 Cultural Story

In medieval England, 'child' referred to any young person until adulthood; the phrase 'child's play' (easy task) dates from the 14th century, reflecting the perception of childhood as a carefree stage.

Meaning 2：son or daughter (child)

child 🔊

/tʃaɪld/

a son or daughter of a parent, showing family connection.

son or daughter 🔊

➕

/sʌn ɔːr ˈdɔːtər/

An individual's offspring, regardless of age; a person's son or daughter in a family context.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Her child sent a heartfelt card on Mother's Day, making her smile all day. 🔊 Her son or daughter sent a sincere card on Mother's Day, making her smile the entire day.

🔗 Collocations

only child – a person who has no siblings

adult child – a grown son or daughter, often living independently

child of divorce – a child whose parents are separated or divorced

🔄 Synonyms

offspring (n.) – a person's child or children, used in formal or biological contexts

progeny (n.) – a descendant or the children of a person, often in a formal or literary sense

descendant (n.) – a person who is a direct blood relative of an ancestor

🚫 Antonyms

parent (n.) – a person's father or mother

ancestor (n.) – a person from whom one is descended, usually from earlier generations

🌱 Derivatives

childhood (n.) – the period of being a child

childish (adj.) – behaving like a child in a negative way

childlike (adj.) – having qualities typical of a child, such as innocence