Kanji

What does the kanji 子 mean?

子 means child. On'yomi シ、ス、ツ. Kun'yomi こ、-こ、ね.

Quick facts
On'yomiシ、ス、ツ
Kun'yomiこ、-こ、ね
Strokes3
Main radical子
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)N5
On'yomi シ、ス、ツKun'yomi こ、-こ、ね
N5 · estimated, JLPT framework3 strokes

child

Memory hook

A baby with a large head and both arms out, wrapped up below — CHILD.

Main radical

子child 3 strokes

Stroke order · 3 strokes

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Common words

More words with this kanji

  • 帽子ぼうしhat, cap
  • 女の子おんなのこgirl
  • 子こchild
  • 息子むすこson (humble way of saying)
  • お子さんおこさんchild (someone else's, polite way of saying)
  • 双子ふたごtwins
  • 女子じょしgirl, female
  • 様子ようすsituation, appearance
  • 王子おうじprince
  • 男子だんしmale, boy
  • 菓子かしsweets, snacks
  • 調子ちょうしcondition, tone, rhythm
  • 迷子まいごlost child, lost person
  • 電子でんしelectronic; electron
  • 判子はんこpersonal seal, stamp
  • 子孫しそんdescendants, offspring
  • 弟子でしdisciple, apprentice
  • 扇子せんすfolding fan
  • 梯子はしごladder; to bar-hop, to hop from place to place
  • 障子しょうじshoji (Japanese paper sliding door)
  • 末っ子すえっこyoungest child
  • 分子ぶんしmolecule; numerator
  • 利子りしinterest (on money)
  • 原子げんしatom

Look up another word →

Data sources and licences

English meanings, On/Kun readings, stroke counts: KANJIDIC2 — Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group (EDRDG), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Components: KRADFILE (EDRDG). Stroke order: KanjiVG (Ulrich Apel), licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. Mnemonics written by GoMe.

Voice: VOICEVOX Nemo.

N5–N1 levels on this page are estimates based on the JLPT framework, drawn from community benchmarks. GoMe Nihongo is not affiliated with the Japan Foundation or JEES, which administer the JLPT.