1.
one's own child; biological child; natural child
A child who is biologically related to their parent, as opposed to an adopted or step-child. A legal and formal term.
実子と養子の区別はない。
There is no distinction between biological and adopted children.
法律上、実子も養子も同じ相続権を持つ。
Legally, both biological and adopted children have the same inheritance rights.
彼は実子のように可愛がっている養子がいる。
He has an adopted child whom he cherishes as if they were his own.
A formal/legal term for a biological child. In everyday conversation, people would simply say 自分の子 (one's own child). 実子 appears primarily in legal, medical, and formal contexts.
HOMOPHONE NOTE:
Not to be confused with 実施 (implementation, carrying out), which has the same reading.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 実子と養子: biological and adopted children
- 実子のように: as if one's own child
- 実子同様: same as a biological child
RELATED TERMS:
- 養子: adopted child
- 継子: stepchild
- 里子: foster child
- 実親: biological parent
- 養親: adoptive parent