第- · 老- 小- · -们 -子 -头 -儿 -家
small pieces that build words: order (第), friendly names (老／小), more than one person (们), everyday nouns (子／头／儿), experts (家)
Structure
第 + 数词 · 老／小 + 姓 · 词 + 儿／家／们／头／子
What it means
Small pieces that build words: 第 gives order, 老／小 make friendly names, 们 makes people plural, 子／头／儿 end everyday nouns, and 家 marks an expert.
How it is built
第 + number: 第三次 (the third time). 老／小 + surname: 老王, 小李. Word + 们: 孩子们. Noun endings: 桌子, 木头, 画儿. Field + 家: 画家 (painter), 作家 (writer).
When to use it
老 + surname is for someone older you know, 小 + surname for someone younger. New words grow the same way: 歌手, 歌迷, 作者, 听众.
Watch out
Never put 们 after a number: ✗ 三个孩子们 ✓ 三个孩子 or 孩子们.
Examples
这是我第三次看他的演唱会。
This is my third time at one of his concerts.
老王是一位画家，他的孩子们都喜欢画画儿。
Old Wang is a painter, and his children all love drawing.
小李，你的本子在桌子上。
Xiao Li, your notebook is on the table.
奶奶家的桌子和椅子都是木头的。
All the tables and chairs at Grandma’s are made of wood.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 24: 演唱会 (The concert)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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