1.
mother and child; mother and her child/children
Refers to a mother and her child or children as a unit. Frequently used in official, medical, and social welfare contexts.
Compound of 母 (mother) + 子 (child). A formal compound used primarily in institutional and official contexts.
Usage
Very common in healthcare, social welfare, and legal contexts. The 母子手帳 (maternal and child health handbook) is given to every pregnant woman in Japan and is used to record the health of both mother and child throughout pregnancy and early childhood. 母子家庭 is the formal term for a single-mother household.
Common collocations
- 母子手帳 — maternal and child health handbook
- 母子家庭 — single-mother household
- 母子健康 — maternal and child health
- 母子分離 — separation of mother and child
- 母子ともに — both mother and child
Similar words
- 父子 — father and child
- 親子 — parent and child (either parent, warmer/more casual)
- 母娘/母娘 — mother and daughter
Related Words
Compare:
親子 (parent and child)