養兒防老 yǎng ér fáng lǎo

raise children so they care for you when old

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. (of parents) to bring up children for the purpose of being looked after in old age

Characters

Character Meaning
養 yǎng
to bring up (children); to raise (animals); to keep (pets)
兒 ér
non-syllabic diminutive suffix; retroflex final; child
防 fáng HSK 5
to prevent; to protect; to defend
老 lǎo HSK 1
old (of people)