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HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min read

Noun Suffixes 家, 子 and 员

Recognize and use the suffixes 家 (画家), 员 (服务员) and 子 (桌子), and know which one a word takes.

Pattern

field + 家 (expert); job/role + 员 (worker, member); word + 子 (everyday noun)

家 is a master of a field, 员 is someone doing a job, and 子 just makes a noun.

服务员，请给我一杯水。

When to use Noun Suffixes 家, 子 and 员

These three suffixes go at the end of a word to make a noun. 家 makes a word for an expert or master of a field: 画家 “painter”, 作家 “writer”. 员 makes a word for a person doing a job or role: 服务员 “waiter”, 运动员 “athlete”. 子 is read in the neutral tone (zi) and adds no meaning; it just forms many everyday nouns: 桌子, 杯子, 孩子.

他是一位很有名的画家。

He is a very famous painter.

我哥哥是运动员。

My older brother is an athlete.

这张桌子是新买的。

This table was just bought.

我长大以后想当作家。

When I grow up, I want to be a writer.

Common traps

  • Say 服务员, not 服务家: 员 names a job or role, while 家 is for an expert in a field.
  • Read 子 in the neutral tone: 桌子 zhuōzi, 孩子 háizi, not zhuōzǐ.
  • Don’t drop 子 from words that need it: 我买了一张桌子, not 我买了一张桌.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

大家都叫这位年长的邻居 王

Choose the familiar prefix used before the surname of an older acquaintance
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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