Translation and Meaning of: 子供 - kodomo

The Japanese word 子供[こども] is one of those that every Japanese language student learns early on, but do you know all the details behind it? In this article, we will explore its meaning, how it is used in everyday Japanese, and even some curiosities that can help you remember it better. If you have used the Suki Nihongo dictionary, you know how important it is to understand not just the translation, but also the cultural context of the words.

Besides meaning "child," 子供 carries nuances that reflect the values of Japanese society. Let's see how this word appears in everyday conversations, its origin, and even tips to avoid confusing it with other similar terms. If you want to go beyond the basics and master the real use of Japanese, this guide will help you.

Meaning and use of 子供 in everyday Japanese.

The most direct translation of 子供 is "child," but its use goes beyond the simple age definition. In Japan, it refers to boys and girls generally up to 12 years old, the phase before adolescence. Unlike Portuguese, where "criança" can be used affectionately for adults, in Japanese this term has a clearer limit.

You will hear 子供 in contexts like schools, parks, or family conversations. Phrases like "子供の頃" (in childhood) or "子供用" (for children) are common. An interesting detail is that, although it is a neutral word, the tone of voice and context can add different nuances - from affection to a certain strictness, depending on the situation.

The origin and writing of 子供

Analyzing the kanji that compose 子供, we have 子 (child) and 供 (companion, servant). This combination emerged during the Edo period, when 供 was used to indicate "those who accompany." Over time, the meaning evolved to its current form, losing the original hierarchical connotation.

In modern writing, 子供 is the standard form, but you may find variations like 子ども in more informal texts. The reading こども is kun'yomi (Japanese reading), which helps distinguish it from words with similar kanji like 子孫 (しそん - descendants). This difference is useful for those studying the ideograms.

Children in Japanese culture and society

In Japan, 子供 is not just a word - it reflects important values. Festivals like Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) show how society values this stage of life. At the same time, expressions like "子供っぽい" (childish) reveal when behavior does not match the expected age.

Interestingly, in animes and dramas, you may notice that 子供 is used in various ways. Adult characters calling others 子供 can indicate protection or, in some cases, a certain superiority. This social nuance is part of learning real Japanese, beyond textbooks.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 子ども (kodomo) - Child in general can refer to children of various ages.
• 幼児 (yōji) - Small child usually refers to children from 0 to 6 years old.
• 未成年 (miseinen) - Minor refers to someone who has not reached the age of majority, usually up to 18 years old.
• 小児 (shōni) - Child, often used in medical contexts to refer to young children.
• ちび (chibi) - Colloquial term for a small child or a short person, carrying an affectionate connotation.

子供

Romaji: kodomo
Kana: こども
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: child; children

Meaning in English: child;children

Definition: A person who is not yet of legal age and is a minor.

Example Sentences - (子供) kodomo

See below some example sentences:

躾は子供の将来に大きな影響を与えます。

Shitsuke wa kodomo no shourai ni ookina eikyou wo ataemasu

Discipline has a big impact on children's future.

Discipline has a significant impact on a child's future.

• 躾 (しつけ) - discipline, education
• 子供 (こども) - child
• 将来 (しょうらい) - future
• 大きな (おおきな) - large
• 影響 (えいきょう) - influence
• 与えます (あたえます) - give, grant

小児科は子供の健康を守るために重要な科目です。

Shounika wa kodomo no kenkou wo mamoru tame ni juuyou na kamoku desu

Pediatrics is an important discipline to protect the health of children.

Pediatrics is an important matter to protect your child's health.

• 小児科 - pediatric medical specialty
• 子供 - child
• 健康 - health
• 守る - protect
• ために - for
• 重要 - important
• 科目 - discipline
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

子供は未来の希望です。

Kodomo wa mirai no kibou desu

Children are the hope of the future.

Children are the future hope.

• 子供 (Kodomo) - Child
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 未来 (mirai) - Future
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 希望 (kibou) - hope
• です (desu) - polite way of being

私は子供を育てるのが好きです。

Watashi wa kodomo wo sodateru no ga suki desu

I like raising children.

I like to raise children.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that what follows refers to "me"
• 子供 (kodomo) - noun meaning "child"
• を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, indicating that "child" is the object of the action
• 育てる (sodateru) - verb meaning "to create", "to educate" or "to care for"
• のが (no ga) - particle indicating that the previous verb is the subject of the following sentence
• 好き (suki) - The adjective that means "to like" is "gostoso" or "agradável."
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

親は子供にとって大切な存在です。

Oya wa kodomo ni totte taisetsu na sonzai desu

Parents are an important presence in children's lives.

Parents are important to children.

• 親 (oya) - means "father" or "mother" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "the parents"
• 子供 (kodomo) - means "child" or "son" in Japanese
• にとって (ni totte) - "to" or "in relation to", in this case, "to the children"
• 大切 (taisetsu) - Adjective meaning "important" or "valuable".
• な (na) - grammatical particle that indicates the adjectival form of the previous term, in this case, "important"
• 存在 (sonzai) - It means "existence" or "presence" in Japanese
• です (desu) - linking verb that indicates the polite and formal way of stating something, in this case, "is"