子
KANJI DETAIL
child
On readingし3 strokesN5
Radical 子 · childStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 子.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- し
- Kun reading
- こ, ね
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
子denotes a child or offspring; its kun-reading isこand its on-reading isし. - Basic usage:
子供(こども)means a child or children, while息子(むすこ)means a son.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A young child and someone's offspring
子供can refer to children attending college as well as to a child playing in a park. When describing a relationship to parents, it is not limited to a young age.友人の息子means a friend's son.息子specifies a male child in the family relationship and is read as a whole word,むすこ.