赤子(あかご)

あかご
noun
baby; infant
1. baby; infant; newborn
A very young child, especially a newborn. The word comes from the reddish skin color of newborns.
赤子(あかご)の手(て)をひねる。
Easy as taking candy from a baby. (Literally: twisting a baby's hand.)
赤子(あかご)が泣(な)き始(はじ)めて、母親(ははおや)が慌(あわ)てて抱(だ)き上(あ)げた。
The baby started crying and the mother hurriedly picked it up.
赤子(あかご)のように無邪気(むじゃき)な笑顔(えがお)を見(み)ると、こちらまで幸(しあわ)せな気持(きも)ちになる。
When I see an innocent smile like a baby's, it makes me feel happy too.

赤子(あかご) literally means "red child," referring to the reddish skin of a newborn. It is a somewhat literary or traditional word.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 赤子(あかご)の手(て)をひねる (to be extremely easy; literally "twist a baby's hand")
  • 赤子(あかご)を抱(だ)く (hold a baby)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 赤子(あかご) vs 赤(あか)ちゃん: 赤(あか)ちゃん is the everyday, affectionate word for "baby," while 赤子(あかご) is more literary or traditional. In modern conversation, 赤(あか)ちゃん is far more common.
  • 赤子(あかご) vs 乳児(にゅうじ): 乳児(にゅうじ) is a medical/technical term for "infant" (typically under one year old).
general
Added 2026.2.28 16:59
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