1.
nephew (affectionate, colloquial)
The son of one's brother or sister. The 〜っ子 ending adds warmth and is the form most people use in conversation, especially when the nephew is still a child.
Common collocations
- 甥っ子が生まれる: to have a nephew born
- 甥っ子の面倒を見る: to look after one's nephew
- 甥っ子にお年玉をあげる: to give one's nephew New Year's money
Similar words
- 甥: nephew — the plain term; used in writing and formal speech, where 甥っ子 would sound too cosy
- 姪っ子: niece — the matching form
- 孫: grandchild — often mentioned alongside when talking about the younger generation
The same 〜っ子 pattern appears in words like 江戸っ子 (a born-and-bred Tokyoite), where it likewise marks familiarity rather than small size.