長子(ちょうし)

ちょうし
noun
eldest child; firstborn
familysociety
1. eldest child; firstborn
the first child born in a family, regardless of sex
彼(かれ)は長子(ちょうし)として生(う)まれた。
He was born as the eldest child.
長子(ちょうし)が家(いえ)を継(つ)ぐのが伝統(でんとう)だった。
It was tradition for the eldest child to inherit the household.
長子(ちょうし)相続(そうぞく)の制度(せいど)は、明治(めいじ)時代(じだい)に法律(ほうりつ)で定(さだ)められた。
The system of primogeniture was established by law during the Meiji era.

A formal term for the firstborn child, used in legal, historical, and academic contexts. In everyday conversation, 一番上(いちばんうえ)の子(こ) is more common.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 長男(ちょうなん): eldest son — specifically the firstborn male child
  • 長女(ちょうじょ): eldest daughter — specifically the firstborn female child
  • 第一子(だいいっし): first child — a clinical or demographic term, common in medical and statistical contexts
  • 跡取(あととり)り: heir, successor — the child who inherits the family name and property

Related Words

Compare: 長男(ちょうなん) (eldest son)
Compare: 長女(ちょうじょ) (eldest daughter)
general
Added 2026.4.22 22:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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