孤児(こじ)

こじ
noun
orphan
personfamily
1. orphan
A child who has lost one or both parents, especially one who has no guardian.
戦争(せんそう)で孤児(こじ)になった。
I became an orphan because of the war.
孤児(こじ)院(いん)で育(そだ)った。
I grew up in an orphanage.
震災(しんさい)で多(おお)くの子(こ)どもが孤児(こじ)となり、支援(しえん)が必要(ひつよう)とされている。
Many children were orphaned by the earthquake disaster, and support is needed.

The standard term for an orphan in Japanese. Also read as みなしご, which is a more literary and emotional reading of the same kanji.

Common collocations

Pronunciation

  • こじ — the standard modern reading, used in news and formal contexts
  • みなしご — a native Japanese reading, more literary and emotional

Similar words

  • 遺児(いじ) — bereaved child (specifically a child who lost parents to disaster or accident; often used in compound 交通(こうつう)遺児(いじ), traffic orphan)
general
Added 2026.3.27 11:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
19500/19835_koji