‘兔子’ (tù zi) is the most common colloquial term for ‘rabbit’ in Mandarin Chinese. It consists of two characters: 兔 (tù), which means ‘rabbit’ and functions as the core semantic component, and 子 (zi), a diminutive or noun-forming suffix that softens the word and makes it sound more familiar, affectionate, or everyday — similar to how English adds ‘-y’ or ‘-ie’ (e.g., ‘bunny’). This suffix does not carry independent meaning here but is essential to the standard spoken form.

The word is widely used in daily conversation, children’s stories, idioms (e.g., 守株待兔), and informal writing. While 兔 alone can appear in formal or compound terms (e.g., 兔毛 ‘rabbit fur’), 兔子 is preferred when referring to the living animal in speech and general contexts. It carries no gender distinction and is neutral in register — appropriate for all ages and situations, from describing pets to illustrating fables.