Chinese phrases
How to say baby in Chinese
Baby in Chinese is 宝宝 (bǎo bao). It’s the warm, everyday word for a baby or a toddler, and parents use it as a name for their own child.
宝宝
baby
The second 宝 is light and short: bǎo bao.
Ways to say baby
宝宝
Everydaybaby
The everyday word for a baby or a toddler. Parents also call their own baby 宝宝 when they talk to it.
小宝宝
Everydaylittle baby
For a very young baby. People say it when they meet one.
婴儿
Writteninfant
In shops, on signs and in news: 婴儿车 is a stroller. In conversation it sounds clinical.
宝贝
Everydaytreasure; darling
Parents call their child 宝贝 at any age. Couples call each other 宝贝 too.
小孩
Everydaychild; kid
Plain and spoken. Any young child, babies included.
Talking about a new baby
怀孕了
(she’s) pregnant
How people share the news: she is expecting.
生孩子
to have a baby
The everyday verb. Relatives often ask young couples about it.
宝宝几个月了
how old is the baby?
The first question people ask a parent. A baby’s age is in months.
男孩还是女孩
a boy or a girl?
The usual next question.
Common mistakes
Using 婴儿 in conversation
你的婴儿很可爱 sounds like a doctor’s note. Say 你家宝宝真可爱, “your baby is so cute.”
Asking 几岁 about a baby
For a baby, people ask 宝宝几个月了 and answer in months: 八个月. 几岁 is for older children: 一岁半, “one and a half.”
Hearing 宝宝 between adults
Couples call each other 宝宝, and people online call their followers 宝宝们. It doesn’t always mean a baby.
In the lift
宝宝几个月了？
Neighbour: How old is the baby?
八个月了。
Mum: Eight months.
真可爱！男孩还是女孩？
Neighbour: So cute! A boy or a girl?
女孩。
Mum: A girl.
