1.
baby, infant
A very young child, typically from birth to around one year old.
赤ちゃんが生まれました。
A baby was born.
赤ちゃんが泣いている。
The baby is crying.
赤ちゃんに名前をつけるのは大変だった。
It was hard to decide on a name for the baby.
赤ちゃんが夜なかなか寝なくて、母は毎日大変です。
The baby won't sleep at night easily, so my mother has a hard time every day.
友達の赤ちゃんに会いに行ったら、とても小さくてかわいかった。
When I went to see my friend's baby, it was very small and cute.
赤ちゃん is an affectionate term for 'baby.'
Etymology: 赤 (red, referring to a newborn's skin color) + ちゃん (affectionate suffix).
Common collocations:
- 赤ちゃんが生まれる (a baby is born)
- 赤ちゃんを抱く (to hold a baby)
- 赤ちゃんに授乳する (to breastfeed a baby)
Related words:
- 赤ん坊: slightly more formal/neutral term for baby
- 乳児: medical/formal term for infant