1.
(another person's) son
A formal, respectful term for someone else's son, used in writing or polite speech. Often appears in news, invitations, and business correspondence. Frequently prefixed with ご as ご子息.
ご子息にお会いした。
I met your son.
社長のご子息が新しい支店を任された。
The president's son was put in charge of the new branch.
結婚式でご子息の晴れ姿を拝見できて光栄でした。
It was an honor to see your son in his wedding attire.
Used only in reference to someone else's son — never one's own. Almost always appears with the honorific prefix ご as ご子息.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ご子息: your/his/her son (polite)
- ご子息様: even more polite, used in formal writing
- ご子息を紹介する: to introduce one's son (when speaking of another's)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 息子: son — neutral term; used for one's own or another's son in casual speech
- ご令息: your son — even more formal than ご子息
- 愚息: my (humble) son — used by parents to refer to their own son humbly
REGISTER:
Formal/written. Avoid in casual conversation, where 息子さん is more natural.