赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)

あかんぼう

noun

baby; infant

1. baby; infant

A very young child, typically under one year old.

赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)が泣(な)いている。

The baby is crying.

赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)がぐっすり眠(ねむ)っている。

The baby is sleeping soundly.

彼女(かのじょ)は先月(せんげつ)赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)を産(う)んで、今(いま)は毎日(まいにち)世話(せわ)をしている。

She gave birth to a baby last month and is now taking care of it every day.

隣(となり)の家(いえ)の赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)が毎晩(まいばん)泣(な)くので、最近(さいきん)あまり眠(ねむ)れていない。

The baby next door cries every night, so I haven't been sleeping well lately.

赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)が生(う)まれたばかりの頃(ころ)は夜中(よなか)に何度(なんど)も起(お)きなければならなくて、毎日(まいにち)大変(たいへん)だった。

When the baby was first born, I had to get up many times in the middle of the night, and every day was exhausting.

赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう) refers specifically to a baby or infant, typically under one year old.

Etymology

From 赤(あか) (red) + 坊(ぼう) (boy/child), referring to the reddish skin color of newborns.

Similar words

赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう): baby, infant (neutral)
赤(あか)ちゃん: baby (affectionate, more common in speech)
乳児(にゅうじ): infant (formal/medical)
幼児(ようじ): toddler, young child (1-6 years)
新生児(しんせいじ): newborn (medical term)

Common expressions

赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)が泣(な)く: baby cries
赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)を抱(だ)く: to hold a baby
赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)の世話(せわ): baby care
赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう)を寝(ね)かせる: to put a baby to sleep

Usage

赤(あか)ちゃん is the usual, affectionate word in everyday conversation; 赤(あか)ん坊(ぼう) is plainer and more matter-of-fact, common in writing and in set phrases.

Related Words

Compare: 赤(あか)ちゃん (baby)

Compare: 乳児(にゅうじ) (infant)

Compare: 幼児(ようじ) (toddler, young child)

core

Added 2026.1.8 12:55 · Revised 2026.10.1 14:23

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