Translation and Meaning of: 赤ちゃん - akachan

If you have ever watched an anime or Japanese drama, you probably heard the word 赤ちゃん (あかちゃん) being used to refer to a baby. But do you know why the Japanese call newborns this way? In this article, we will explore the etymology, everyday usage, and even some curiosities about this adorable word. Moreover, if you are studying Japanese, you will learn how to write the kanji correctly and some useful phrases to add to your Anki or other memorization systems.

Many people search on Google for the meaning of 赤ちゃん, its literal translation, and how it is used in different contexts. Does it have to do with the color red? The answer is more interesting than it seems. Let's unravel all of that and also provide practical examples for you to use in your daily life.

Origin and Etymology of 赤ちゃん

The word 赤ちゃん is a combination of two elements: 赤 (あか), which means "red," and the affectionate suffix ちゃん. But why is "red" associated with babies? The answer lies in Japanese culture. Newborns often have reddened skin during the first days of life, and this physical characteristic gave rise to the term. It's no surprise that many baby products in Japan use red in their packaging.

Another theory suggests that the term comes from the expression 赤ん坊 (あかんぼう), an older way of referring to babies. Over time, the language became more affectionate, and the suffix ちゃん came into play to make the word even sweeter. Have you noticed how the Japanese love adding endearing suffixes to names and words?

Lies in Japanese Everyday Life

赤ちゃん it is an extremely common word in Japan, used by parents, grandparents, and even in advertisements for diapers and bottles. Unlike Portuguese, where we have variations like "bebê," "neném," or "recém-nascido," the Japanese use this word for almost all situations involving small children. If you visit a park in Japan, you'll hear mothers saying things like "Baby, come here" (Come here, baby).

An interesting fact is that, although 赤ちゃん is gender-neutral, some parents add their child's name before the term to personalize it, like ゆきちゃんの赤ちゃん (Yuki's baby). This shows how the Japanese language is flexible and full of affectionate nuances. So, have you thought about what it would be like to call your nephew or godchild using this word?

Tips for Memorizing and Writing

If you're studying Japanese, a great way to memorize 赤ちゃん is to associate the kanji 赤 (red) with the image of a newborn. Writing by hand also helps: start with the horizontal stroke at the top, then the vertical, and finish with the other components. The kanji may seem complicated, but after a few attempts, it gets easier. How about practicing right now in a notebook?

To boost your studies, try creating flashcards in Anki with sentences like "赤ちゃんが泣いている" (The baby is crying) or "赤ちゃんはかわいい" (The baby is cute). Associating the word with real situations will help you remember it naturally. And if you enjoy music, look for Japanese children's songs — many use this word and are great for training your ear.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 赤ん坊 (Akachan) - Baby, very small child.
• 乳児 (Nyuuji) - Baby, generally referring to children under one year old.
• 幼児 (Youji) - Small child, usually between 1 to 6 years old.
• 赤ちゃん (Akachan) - Baby, a term of endearment used to refer to small children.
• ベイビー (Beibii) - Term used in English for "baby" in an informal way is "babe".

赤ちゃん

Romaji: akachan
Kana: あかちゃん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4, jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: baby; newborn

Meaning in English: baby;infant

Definition: Babies crawl from 1 month until they can walk.

Example Sentences - (赤ちゃん) akachan

See below some example sentences:

赤ちゃんはとてもかわいいです。

Akachan wa totemo kawaii desu

Babies are very cute.

The baby is very cute.

• 赤ちゃん - means "baby" in Japanese
• は - topic particle, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• かわいい - adjective meaning "cute" or "pretty"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

お襁褓は赤ちゃんの必需品です。

O yōfuku wa akachan no hitsujuhin desu

Diapers are essential items for babies.

襁褓 is a necessity for a baby.

• お襁褓 - Japanese word meaning "diaper"
• は - grammatical particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 赤ちゃん - Japanese word meaning "baby"
• の - Japanese grammatical particle indicating possession or relationship
• 必需品 - Japanese word meaning "essential need"
• です - Japanese verb indicating to be or to be in the present and formal tenses

彼女は来年赤ちゃんを産む予定です。

Kanojo wa rainen akachan o umu yotei desu

She plans to have a baby next year.

She will have a baby next year.

• 彼女 - means "girlfriend" or "she" in Japanese
• は - topic particle in Japanese, indicating that "she" is the subject of the sentence
• 来年 - means "next year" in Japanese
• 赤ちゃん - means "baby" in Japanese
• を - object particle in Japanese, indicating that "baby" is the object of the action
• 産む - means "to give birth" in Japanese
• 予定 - means "plan" or "schedule" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is in the present tense and is affirmative