()さん

おこさん
noun
(someone else's) child
1. (someone else's) child
Polite term used to refer to another person's child or children. This is the respectful form used when speaking about or to someone else's children.
()さんは何歳(なんさい)ですか。
How old is your child?
Polite way to ask about someone's child
()さんは元気(げんき)ですか。
How is your child (doing)?
()さんがいらっしゃいますか。
Do you have children?
Very polite form using いらっしゃる
()さんは学校(がっこう)(なに)勉強(べんきょう)していますか。
What is your child studying at school?
()さんの成長(せいちょう)(はや)いですね。(まえ)()った(とき)よりずっと(おお)きくなりましたね。
Children grow up so fast. Your child has gotten much bigger since the last time I saw them.

()さん is the polite form used when referring to someone else's child. For your own children, use 子供(こども) or うちの().

RELATED TERMS:

  • 子供(こども): neutral term for child/children (can be used for own or others')
  • 息子(むすこ)さん: (someone else's) son
  • (むすめ)さん: (someone else's) daughter
  • うちの(): my child (humble)

The お〜さん pattern is common for polite reference to people: お(きゃく)さん (customer), お医者(いしゃ)さん (doctor).

[Register: Polite]