How to Say “My grandchild” in Chinese
Relationships and family · HSK 3
"My grandchild" in Chinese is 我的孙子 (Wǒ de sūnzi). Chinese splits 'grandchild' by both gender AND which side of the family. 孙子 (sūnzi) is specifically your son's son; 孙女 (sūnnǚ) is your son's daughter.
Primary translation
我的孙子
Wǒ de sūnzi
Traditional: 我的孫子
When to use it
Chinese splits 'grandchild' by both gender AND which side of the family. 孙子 (sūnzi) is specifically your son's son; 孙女 (sūnnǚ) is your son's daughter. On the mother's side you get 外孙 (wàisūn) and 外孙女 (wàisūnnǚ); the 外 ('outside') reflects the old patrilineal view that a daughter's children belonged to her husband's family. When Chinese grandparents brag on WeChat, 我孙子 is usually the default, but in mixed groups say 我孙子孙女 to cover both, or 我的孙辈 (sūnbèi, 'grandchild generation') for a neutral catch-all.
Example sentences
我孙子今年三岁了。
Wǒ sūnzi jīnnián sān suì le.
My grandson is three this year.
我每天都想我的孙子孙女。
Wǒ měitiān dōu xiǎng wǒ de sūnzi sūnnǚ.
I miss my grandchildren every day.
外孙女下周来看我。
Wàisūnnǚ xiàzhōu lái kàn wǒ.
My granddaughter (on my daughter's side) is coming to visit next week.