Definition

1. Noun:
   • Baby: A very young child, especially one who has not yet learned to walk or talk. This is the most common and general term for an infant.
   • Younger sibling or person: In its original and broader sense, "em" refers to a younger person in a family or social hierarchy, and "bé" means small or little. Combined, it can affectionately refer to a younger sibling or a person younger than the speaker, but in modern usage, this meaning is almost entirely superseded by the primary meaning of "baby."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Em bé đang ngủ. (The baby is sleeping.)
  • Tiếng khóc của em bé. (The cry of a baby.)
  • Chị ấy mới sinh một em bé. (She just had a baby.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is used generically and affectionately. It is neutral and can refer to a baby boy or girl. For specifying gender, "em bé trai" (baby boy) or "em bé gái" (baby girl) are used.
• It is commonly used in pediatric contexts (e.g., - the pediatrician examines the baby) and in everyday family life.

Variants and Related Words

• Trẻ sơ sinh (n): Newborn. Specifically refers to a baby in the first few weeks of life.
  • Khoa trẻ sơ sinh (The newborn department.)
• Trẻ nhỏ (n): Young child. A broader term for a small child, not necessarily an infant.
• Đứa bé (n): Child, kid. A common, slightly more colloquial term for a child.

Synonyms

• Infant: A very young child or baby.
• Newborn: A recently born child.
• Babe: A literary or affectionate term for a baby.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Nuôi em bé bằng sữa mẹ: To breastfeed a baby.
  • Cô ấy nuôi em bé bằng sữa mẹ. (She breastfeeds the baby.)
• Tã lót cho em bé: Diapers for a baby.
• Em bé bụ bẫm: A chubby baby.

1. Baby