<p>The Chinese expression for 'only Child' can be '<strong>独生子女</strong>(only child)','<strong>独子</strong>(only son)','<strong>独女</strong>(only daughter)'，or some more ancient or literary words like '<strong>独苗</strong>(only child)','<strong>单丁</strong>(only son)',<strong>单根独苗</strong>(only child or only descendant).</p>
<p>Native Chinese speakers may have other expressions like,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他膝下<strong>仅有一女</strong>。（He has only one daughter.）</p>
<p>他是那老汉<strong>唯一的儿子</strong>。（He is the only son of that old man.）</p>
<p>他是<strong>三代单传</strong>。（He is the only one son for several generations in the family.）</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I hope the above helps.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-24T08:22:02.530Z
2015-11-24T08:22:02.530Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
dennylv
<p>I noticed lots of compound words using "只" for "only", but what is the correct way to say "only child" (a child with no brothers, nor sisters)?</p>

<translation><meaning-in-context>
What is the correct Chinese expression for "Only child"?
# What is the correct Chinese expression for "Only child"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-24)

I noticed lots of compound words using "只" for "only", but what is the correct way to say "only child" (a child with no brothers, nor sisters)?

**Tags:** translation, meaning-in-context


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-11-24. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

The Chinese expression for 'only Child' can be '**独生子女**(only child)','**独子**(only son)','**独女**(only daughter)'，or some more ancient or literary words like '**独苗**(only child)','**单丁**(only son)',**单根独苗**(only child or only descendant).

Native Chinese speakers may have other expressions like,

> 他膝下**仅有一女**。（He has only one daughter.）
>
> 他是那老汉**唯一的儿子**。（He is the only son of that old man.）
>
> 他是**三代单传**。（He is the only one son for several generations in the family.）

I hope the above helps.


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