How to Say “Newborn baby” in Chinese
Relationships and family · HSK 3
"Newborn baby" in Chinese is 新生儿 (Xīnshēng'ér). 新生儿 (xīnshēng'ér) is the clinical term you'll see on hospital signs and birth certificates. In daily life, families say 小宝宝 (xiǎo bǎobao); 宝宝 literally means 'treasure' and is the universal cute word for baby, also widely used by couples for each other.
Primary translation
新生儿
Xīnshēng'ér
Traditional: 新生兒
Variants by register
Formal
新生婴儿
Xīnshēng yīng'ér
Casual
小宝宝
Xiǎo bǎobao
When to use it
新生儿 (xīnshēng'ér) is the clinical term you'll see on hospital signs and birth certificates. In daily life, families say 小宝宝 (xiǎo bǎobao); 宝宝 literally means 'treasure' and is the universal cute word for baby, also widely used by couples for each other. New parents in China traditionally observe 坐月子 (zuò yuèzi), a 30-day postpartum confinement where the mother stays inside, eats specific foods, and avoids cold water. When meeting a newborn, complimenting how 'fat' (胖) the baby is is a high compliment; it signals health and prosperity.
Example sentences
她刚生了一个小宝宝。
Tā gāng shēng le yí ge xiǎo bǎobao.
She just had a newborn baby.
新生儿一天要睡很多个小时。
Xīnshēng'ér yì tiān yào shuì hěn duō ge xiǎoshí.
Newborns need to sleep many hours a day.
宝宝长得真可爱！
Bǎobao zhǎng de zhēn kě'ài!
The baby is so cute!