<p>It's called a diminutive suffix, about which you can read these entries:</p>

<p><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminutive" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminutive</a></p>

<p><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diminutives_by_language" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diminutives_by_language</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-08T18:51:08.657Z
While this is true I feel it is a little bit of an oversimplification. While 子 may have begun as a diminutive suffix, there are many examples of common nouns in which it has lost any diminutive meaning and is present only for prosodic reasons, ie, to make a two syllable word out of a one syllable word. 帽子 vs. 帽.
Buddy L
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-02T10:36:45.130Z
2019-03-03T06:14:25.367Z
2019-03-03T06:14:25.367Z
Kholkhol
<p>In Chinese, 子 has multiple meanings and usages. </p>

<p>(1) One of them is the noun "child" such as 父与子(the father and the child). </p>

<p>(2) You can also say 孔子 which means Confucius. Here 子 is used as a suffix to some great ancient scholars. The usage here is similar as we put "Dr." before the person who has a Ph.D. degree. </p>

<p>(3) The case you mentioned which the 子 is used as the noun suffix is another usage, such as 桌子，椅子，瓶子，镜子(table, chair, bottle, mirror). It doesn't really have a relationship with the meaning "child".</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-22T16:03:48.123Z
2019-01-22T16:03:48.123Z
Zijun Xue
<p>It's really impressive how 子 [zi] is super productive as a noun suffix. But I can't see any relation of how the idea of "child" could turn into a suffix.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-22T13:18:44.167Z
Are you familiar with the concept of _diminutives_? E.g. -zinho
Michaelyus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-22T19:38:12.403Z
Does this help? https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/31303/what-is-the-meaning-of-%e5%ad%90-in-words-like-%e8%8f%93%e5%ad%90%ea%b3%bc%ec%9e%90-%e5%b8%bd%e5%ad%90%eb%aa%a8%ec%9e%90-or-%e7%8d%85%e5%ad%90%ec%82%ac%ec%9e%90
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-04T12:38:42.390Z
This is not unusual among languages. 儿 is the other Chinese diminutive and has a similar literal meaning. I'm pretty sure that in Thai the diminutive is also formed using a word literally meaning "child" except it's a prefix rather than a suffix.
hippietrail
<etymology>
How did 子, meaning "child", become a noun suffix?
# How did 子, meaning "child", become a noun suffix?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-22)

It's really impressive how 子 [zi] is super productive as a noun suffix. But I can't see any relation of how the idea of "child" could turn into a suffix.

Thanks!

**Tags:** etymology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Are you familiar with the concept of _diminutives_? E.g. -zinho  
> **username_2**: Does this help? https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/31303/what-is-the-meaning-of-%e5%ad%90-in-words-like-%e8%8f%93%e5%ad%90%ea%b3%bc%ec%9e%90-%e5%b8%bd%e5%ad%90%eb%aa%a8%ec%9e%90-or-%e7%8d%85%e5%ad%90%ec%82%ac%ec%9e%90  
> **username_3**: This is not unusual among languages. 儿 is the other Chinese diminutive and has a similar literal meaning. I'm pretty sure that in Thai the diminutive is also formed using a word literally meaning "child" except it's a prefix rather than a suffix.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-03-02. Score: 2

It's called a diminutive suffix, about which you can read these entries:

<https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminutive>

<https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diminutives_by_language>

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: While this is true I feel it is a little bit of an oversimplification. While 子 may have begun as a diminutive suffix, there are many examples of common nouns in which it has lost any diminutive meaning and is present only for prosodic reasons, ie, to make a two syllable word out of a one syllable word. 帽子 vs. 帽.  

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### Answer by username_6 on 2019-01-22. Score: 1

In Chinese, 子 has multiple meanings and usages.

(1) One of them is the noun "child" such as 父与子(the father and the child).

(2) You can also say 孔子 which means Confucius. Here 子 is used as a suffix to some great ancient scholars. The usage here is similar as we put "Dr." before the person who has a Ph.D. degree.

(3) The case you mentioned which the 子 is used as the noun suffix is another usage, such as 桌子，椅子，瓶子，镜子(table, chair, bottle, mirror). It doesn't really have a relationship with the meaning "child".


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