(しそく)

しそく
noun
(another person's) son
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(しそく).
子息(しそく)にお()いした。
I met your son.
社長(しゃちょう)のご子息(しそく)(あたら)しい支店(してん)(まか)された。
The president's son was put in charge of the new branch.
結婚式(けっこんしき)でご子息(しそく)()姿(すがた)拝見(はいけん)できて光栄(こうえい)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(しそく).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 子息(しそく): your/his/her son (polite)
  • 子息(しそく)(さま): even more polite, used in formal writing
  • 子息(しそく)紹介(しょうかい)する: to introduce one's son (when speaking of another's)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 息子(むすこ): son — neutral term; used for one's own or another's son in casual speech
  • 令息(れいそく): your son — even more formal than ご子息(しそく)
  • 愚息(ぐそく): my (humble) son — used by parents to refer to their own son humbly

REGISTER:
Formal/written. Avoid in casual conversation, where 息子(むすこ)さん is more natural.