Translation and Meaning of: 子 - ko

The Japanese word 子[こ] is one of those little gems of the language that carries deep meanings and varied uses. If you are studying Japanese or are just curious about the language, understanding this word can open doors to a better understanding of culture and communication in Japan. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, writing, and how it is used in everyday life, as well as curiosities that make 子[こ] so special.

Found in various contexts, from proper names to common expressions, 子[こ] is a versatile word that deserves attention. Whether for those who want to expand their vocabulary or for those looking to understand cultural nuances, this guide will help unravel the secrets of this small yet powerful particle of the Japanese language.

Meaning and use of 子[こ]

In its most basic form, 子[こ] means "child" or "son." However, its usage goes far beyond that. It can appear in proper names, both male and female, such as "Aiko" or "Takako," where it carries an affectionate sense or an indication of youth. In more general contexts, it can also refer to small objects or elements, as in "neko" (cat), where "ko" suggests something small or cute.

Another interesting aspect is its use in compound words. For example, "kodomo" (子[こ] e 供[ども]) means child, reinforcing the idea of childhood. In "musuko" (息子), the combination with other kanjis creates specific nuances. This flexibility makes 子[こ] one of the most frequent words in Japanese vocabulary, appearing in both formal and informal situations.

The origin and writing of 子[こ]

The kanji 子 has a rich and ancient history. Originally, it represented the figure of a baby wrapped in cloth, an image that evolved into its current form. In ancient China, this character was already used to symbolize descent and youth, a meaning that has persisted in Japanese. Interestingly, 子 is also one of the simplest kanjis to write, with only three strokes, which makes it one of the first to be learned by students.

In addition to the reading "ko," this kanji can be read as "shi" in certain contexts, such as in the term "shi-shi" (master), although this pronunciation is less common. It is worth noting that 子 is part of several other compound kanjis, such as 学 (gaku, study) and 好 (kou, like), where it acts as a radical, reinforcing ideas related to growth or affection.

ko in Japanese culture

In Japan, 子[こ] is not just a word, but a concept that reflects social values. The idea of "child" is connected to purity and potential, something often celebrated in festivals like Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day). Names that end with 子, especially for women, were extremely popular in the 20th century, symbolizing delicacy and tradition.

Furthermore, expressions like "koibito" (lover) show how 子[こ] can take on broader meanings related to affection and closeness. Whether in animes, songs, or literature, this word appears as a symbol of beloved and important things. For those who want to dive into the language, noticing these cultural details is essential to use 子[こ] in a natural and accurate way.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• こども (kodomo) - Child
• 子供 (kodomo) - Criança (kanji)
• あかちゃん (akachan) - Baby
• ちび (chibi) - Chubby, little; used in an affectionate way
• ようじん (youjin) - Child (in the context of care)
• ぼく (boku) - I (usually used by young boys)
• こづくり (kozukuri) - Child rearing
• こづくりさん (kozukuri-san) - Sir or person who raises children
• こづくりくん (kozukuri-kun) - Boy who takes care of children
• こどもちゃん (kodomo-chan) - Little girl (affectionate form)
• こどもさん (kodomo-san) - Boy child (respectful form)
• こどもくん (kodomo-kun) - Boy child (friendly form)

子

Romaji: ko
Kana: こ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4, jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: child

Meaning in English: child

Definition: Person whose biological age ranges from 0 to 12 years.

Example Sentences - (子) ko

See below some example sentences:

女の子は可愛いです。

Onnanoko wa kawaii desu

Girls are cute.

The girl is cute.

• 女の子 - It means "girl" in Japanese.
• は - It is a particle that marks the topic of the sentence, which in this case is "girl."
• 可愛い - It means "cute" or "beautiful" in Japanese.
• です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar" in Japanese.

女子は強くて美しいです。

Onna no ko wa tsuyokute utsukushii desu

Women are strong and beautiful.

The girls are strong and beautiful.

• 女子 (joshi) - means "women" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "women"
• 強くて (tsuyokute) - adverb meaning "strong" or "powerful", used here as an adjective to describe women
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "pretty", used here to describe women
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

トランジスターは電子部品の一種です。

Toranjisutaa wa denshi buhin no issu desu

Transistor is a type of electronic component.

• トランジスター - transistor
• は - partícula que indica o tópico da frase
• 電子部品 - electronic components
• の - particle possession indicating or association
• 一種 - one type
• です - is (copulation)

分子は化学的な構成要素です。

Bunshi wa kagakuteki na kōseiyōso desu

Molecule is a fundamental chemical component.

Molecules are chemical components.

• 分子 - "molecule" in Japanese.
• は - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 化学的な - It means "químico" in Japanese.
• 構成要素 - "componente" means "コンポーネント" in Japanese.
• です - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the end of the sentence and formality.

分母は分子よりも大きいです。

Bunbo wa bunshi yori mo ookii desu

The denominator is larger than the molecule.

• 分母 - means "denominator" in Japanese.
• は - It is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 分子 - It means "numerador" in Japanese.
• よりも - It is a Japanese expression that means "more than".
• 大きい - means "big" in Japanese.
• です - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.

双子はとても可愛いです。

Futago wa totemo kawaii desu

The twins are very cute.

• 双子 (futago) - "twins" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 可愛い (kawaii) - adjective meaning "cute" or "pretty"
• です (desu) - Verb "to be" in polite form

王子は美しい庭園を持っています。

Ōji wa utsukushii teien o motteimasu

The prince has a beautiful garden.

• 王子 (ou ōji) - means "prince" in Japanese
• は (ou wa) - topic particle in Japanese, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "prince"
• 美しい (ou utsukushii) - The adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful" in Japanese is "美しい" (utsukushii).
• 庭園 (ou teien) - noun meaning "garden" or "park" in Japanese
• を (ou o) - direct object particle in Japanese, indicates that "garden" is the direct object of the action
• 持っています (ou motteimasu) - verb meaning "to have" or "to possess" in Japanese, in the present continuous tense

私の息子はとてもかわいいです。

Watashi no musuko wa totemo kawaii desu

My son is very cute.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case "mine"
• 息子 (musuko) - noun that means "son"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "my son"
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• かわいい (kawaii) - adjective meaning "cute" or "pretty"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私は餃子を固めるのが得意です。

Watashi wa gyoza wo katameru no ga tokui desu

I am good at making Gyoza very firm.

I am good at hardening Gyoza.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 餃子 (gyouza) - word meaning "guioza", a type of Japanese food
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 固める (katameru) - verb meaning "to squeeze" or "to compact"
• の (no) - possession particle indicating that the skill described belongs to the subject of the sentence
• が (ga) - subject particle indicating that the subject is the one who possesses the skill described
• 得意 (tokui) - adjective meaning "good at" or "skilled at"
• です (desu) - linking verb indicating that the sentence is in the present tense and is affirmative

私はこの冊子を読み終えました。

Watashi wa kono satsusho o yomi oeta

I finished reading this book.

I finished reading this booklet.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• この (kono) - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 冊子 (sakushi) - noun meaning "book" or "brochure"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "book"
• 読み終えました (yomioemashita) - verb meaning "I finished reading"