せがれ

son, my son

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Usage and Nuance

The character is a literary or dialectal term used to refer to one's own son. It carries a warm, affectionate tone and is often found in classical texts or regional speech rather than in everyday modern Mandarin. When used, it emphasizes the personal relationship and affection between speaker and child.

Common Collocations

  • (son grows up): used to talk about the son's growth and maturity.
  • (call son): highlights the act of addressing one's son, often evoking a tender response.

Register and Tone

is not commonly used in formal or standard spoken Mandarin today. It appears more in literary contexts or dialects. Learners should be aware that using in everyday conversation might sound archaic or poetic.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse with the more common word 儿 (érzi), which is the standard term for son in modern Mandarin. is more specialized and less frequent.

Example Sentences

Son, you did very well at school today. Dad is proud of you.

My son has grown up and needs to learn to live independently.

Whenever I call my son, he always runs over with a smile.