子 供(こども)

こども

noun

child, children

person

1. child, children

A young human being, or one's own offspring regardless of age.

子供(こども)が 3人(にん)います。

I have 3 children.

子供(こども)たちは公園(こうえん)で遊(あそ)んでいます。

The children are playing in the park.

たち = plural marker

子供(こども)の時(とき)、よく海(うみ)で泳(およ)いだり、山(やま)に行(い)ったりしました。

When I was a child, I often swam in the ocean and went to the mountains.

子供(こども)の時(とき) = when (I was) a child

子供(こども)にも分(わ)かるように、難(むずか)しい言葉(ことば)を使(つか)わないで説明(せつめい)してください。

Please explain without using difficult words so that even children can understand.

あの夫婦(ふうふ)には子供(こども)が五人(ごにん)いて、毎日(まいにち)朝(あさ)から晩(ばん)まで忙(いそが)しそうですが、いつも楽(たの)しそうに過(す)ごしています。

That couple has five children and seems busy from morning to night every day, but they always seem to be having a good time.

子供(こども) can mean either 'children' in general or 'one's own children.' The word doesn't distinguish singular from plural.

Politeness levels

子供(こども): neutral term
お子(こ)さん: polite (for others' children)
子(こ): shorter/casual form

Common expressions

子供(こども)の時(とき): when (I was) a child
子供(こども)たち: children (explicit plural)
子供(こども)っぽい: childish
子供(こども)向(む)け: for children

Gendered terms

男(おとこ)の子(こ): boy
女(おんな)の子(こ): girl

Usage

The kanji 供(とも) is sometimes considered offensive when written with kanji (implying 'attendant'), so こども or 子(こ)ども in mixed script is sometimes preferred in official contexts.

子供(こども)

Politeness levels

Common expressions

Gendered terms

Usage

Related Words