孺 (rú) - Child & young person

孺Tone 2

rú ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

儒三

孺 · rú

Child;

young person;

to be fond of children;

used in classical texts to refer to the young or to describe affection for the young.

Childyoung personto be fond of children

Usage highlights

ChildChildlike innocenceAffection for the youngOld and youngThe teaching of childrenThe heart of a child

Synonyms

  • 子— child; son
  • 孩— child
  • 童— child; young

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Mencius 2A:6(The Mencius says 'the heart of compassion is possessed by all men alike' (恻隐之心，人皆有之), and the heart of compassion is the sprout of benevolence (仁之端也); the heart of shame and dislike is the sprout of righteousness (义之端也); the heart of deference and compliance is the sprout of propriety (礼之端也); and the heart of right and wrong is the sprout of wisdom (智之端也). Men have these four sprouts just as they have their four limbs. Having these four sprouts, but to say of themselves that they cannot develop them is to steal from themselves (自贼者也), and to say that their ruler cannot develop them is to steal from their ruler. All who have these four sprouts within them know how to develop them and complete them, for they are like a fire that has begun to burn (火之始然), or a spring that has begun to find vent (泉之始达). If they can complete them, they can tend the whole realm within the Four Seas; if they cannot complete them, they cannot suffice to serve their parents.)
  • The old man and the child (老孺) were crossing the street together.
  • He has a childlike innocence (孺子天真) that is endearing.
  • The teacher was known for his fondness for children (孺慕之情).

Collocations

  • Child(孺子)
  • Childlike innocence(孺子天真)
  • Affection for the young(孺慕)
  • Old and young(老孺)
  • The teaching of children(孺子教)
  • The heart of a child(孺子心)

Idioms

  • The child of the Qi people(齐人之孺)
  • The teaching of the child(孺子可教)
  • The heart of the child(孺子之心)
  • The Way of the child(孺子之道)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian thought, the 'child's heart' (童心 or 赤子之心) is often seen as a symbol of purity and innate goodness, which should be preserved or recovered.
  • The term 孺子 appears in classical texts like the Mencius, often in discussions of human nature and moral development.
  • The character 孺 carries a gentle, nurturing connotation, associated with the innocence and potential of youth.

FAQ