When talking about children in Japanese, you will often hear the word 子供 (kodomo). This word can mean both "a child" or "children" in general, depending on the context. For example, if you want to say "I have two children," you would say 「子供が二人います。」 (Kodomo ga futari imasu.)
It's a very common and versatile word. You might also hear 「お子さん (okosan)」 which is a more polite way to refer to someone else's child, but 「子供」 is perfectly appropriate for general use and for referring to your own children.
§ Understanding 子供 (kodomo)
子供 (kodomo) is a common Japanese word. It means 'child' or 'children'. It's a versatile word you'll hear and use a lot. Let's break down how to use it correctly in sentences.
- Meaning
- Child, children
- CEFR Level
- A2
§ Basic Sentence Structures with 子供
You can use 子供 in simple sentences to talk about children. Here are some basic examples:
公園に子供がいます。
- Translation hint: There are children in the park.
彼女には子供が三人います。
- Translation hint: She has three children.
§ Using Particles with 子供
Particles are key in Japanese. Here's how to use common particles with 子供.
- 子供と (kodomo to) - With a child/children
- The particle と (to) means 'with'. Use it to indicate doing something with a child or children.
子供と遊びます。
- Translation hint: I play with the children.
- 子供の (kodomo no) - Child's / Of children
- The particle の (no) shows possession or describes a noun. It's like 's in English.
子供の絵が壁に飾ってあります。
- Translation hint: The children's drawings are displayed on the wall.
- 子供に (kodomo ni) - To a child/children
- The particle に (ni) can indicate the recipient of an action.
子供にお菓子をあげました。
- Translation hint: I gave sweets to the child/children.
§ 子供 as a Noun Modifier
子供 can also act as a noun modifier, much like an adjective. When you place 子供 directly before another noun, it describes that noun as being 'for children' or 'child-related'.
子供部屋は二階にあります。
- Translation hint: The children's room is on the second floor.
子供服を買いに行きました。
- Translation hint: I went to buy children's clothes.
§ Plurality of 子供
In Japanese, nouns generally don't change form for plural. 子供 can mean 'child' (singular) or 'children' (plural), depending on the context.
これは私の子供です。
- Translation hint: This is my child. (singular)
公園にはたくさんの子供が遊んでいます。
- Translation hint: Many children are playing in the park. (plural)
§ Related Vocabulary
While 子供 is generally sufficient, you might encounter other words related to 'child'.
- 赤ちゃん (akachan): baby
- 少年 (shounen): boy (often used in a more literary or specific context)
- 少女 (shoujo): girl (often used in a more literary or specific context)
For everyday conversations, 子供 is usually the most natural choice.
§ Understanding 子供 (Kodomo)
You're learning Japanese, and you've come across the word 子供 (kodomo). It means 'child' or 'children.' Simple enough, right? But understanding how it's used in everyday conversation and specific contexts is what really matters. Let's break down where you'll actually hear and use this word in Japan.
§ At School
School is a prime place for this word. Teachers, parents, and even the children themselves will use 子供. It's a standard term to refer to students, especially younger ones.
- Definition
- Referring to students in a school setting.
先生は子供たちに本を読み聞かせます。
This means: "The teacher reads a book to the children." Here, 子供たち (kodomo-tachi) is used to specifically indicate 'the children' as a group. The たち (-tachi) suffix makes it plural, though 子供 itself can be singular or plural depending on context.
この学校にはたくさん子供がいます。
This translates to: "There are many children in this school." Again, 子供 is used generally for 'children.'
§ In Daily Conversations and at Work
You'll hear 子供 often when people talk about their families or others' families. It's a fundamental word for discussing age and family structure.
- Definition
- Referring to one's own offspring or someone else's children.
私の子供は来年小学生になります。
This translates to: "My child will become a first-grader next year." Here, it clearly refers to a single child.
彼女には3人の子供がいます。
This means: "She has three children." In this case, 子供 is plural without the たち suffix because the number specifies plurality.
In a work context, especially if you're discussing family matters with colleagues, this word is essential. For instance, if you're talking about childcare leave or family events, 子供 will come up naturally.
§ In the News and Public Announcements
News reports, public service announcements, and discussions about social issues often use 子供 to refer to young people in a broader sense, especially when talking about policies or societal impacts.
- Definition
- Referring to young people in a general, often societal, context.
子供の安全を守るための新しい法律が制定されました。
This translates to: "A new law was enacted to protect children's safety." Here, 子供 refers to children as a demographic group.
この公園は子供たちが遊ぶのに安全な場所です。
This means: "This park is a safe place for children to play." Again, it's a general reference to children.
§ Important Nuances to Remember
While 子供 generally means 'child' or 'children,' its usage can sometimes lean towards 'kids' in a more casual context. However, it's always respectful and appropriate.
Be mindful of context. If you're talking about a specific group of children you already know, 子供たち is a good choice. If you're talking about children in general, 子供 is perfectly fine.
§ Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to master 子供 is to pay attention to how native speakers use it. Listen for it in anime, Japanese dramas, news reports, and try to use it yourself when speaking or writing. The more you expose yourself to real Japanese, the more natural its usage will become.
재미있는 사실
The kanji for '子供' are '子' (ko) meaning 'child' and '供' (domo) meaning 'companion' or 'attendance'. When '供' is used with '子', it pluralizes it or adds a nuance of 'group of children'.
수준별 예문
子供が公園で遊んでいます。
Children are playing in the park.
〜が遊んでいます (are playing)
私の子供はもう大きいです。
My child is already big.
もう (already); 大きい (big, grown up)
たくさんの子供たちがイベントに参加しました。
Many children participated in the event.
たくさん (many); 〜が参加しました (participated)
この本は子供向けです。
This book is for children.
〜向け (for, aimed at)
子供の時に、よくここに来ました。
When I was a child, I often came here.
〜の時 (when...); よく (often); 〜に来ました (came)
子供は元気いっぱいです。
Children are full of energy.
元気いっぱい (full of energy)
彼女には子供が三人います。
She has three children.
〜がいます (there is/are, for living things)
子供の夢を応援します。
I support children's dreams.
〜の夢 (dream of...); 〜を応援します (support)
어원
From Old Japanese.
원래 의미: Originally referred to 'small bird' or 'young animal'. Over time, it evolved to mean 'child' or 'young person'.
Japonic문화적 맥락
In Japan, children are highly valued. The term 子供 (kodomo) is generally used to refer to anyone under the age of 18. There are many cultural traditions and festivals celebrating children's growth and well-being, such as Hina Matsuri (Doll's Festival) for girls and Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) for boys, though it's now celebrated for all children.
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
Talking about your family
- 私には子供がいます。
- I have children.
- うちの子供は元気です。
- My child is doing well.
- 何人子供がいますか？
- How many children do you have?
Describing someone's age or characteristics
- 彼はまだ子供です。
- He is still a child.
- 彼女は子供みたいに笑う。
- She laughs like a child.
- 子供っぽいですね。
- You're childish.
Discussing activities or places for children
- 子供向けの映画です。
- It's a movie for children.
- 子供が遊べる場所。
- A place where children can play.
- 子供連れ歓迎。
- Children welcome.
Talking about the future or past generations
- 将来、子供が欲しいです。
- I want children in the future.
- 子供の頃の思い出。
- Childhood memories.
- 次の世代の子供たち。
- Children of the next generation.
In general conversation about children
- 子供の教育は大切です。
- Children's education is important.
- 子供は宝物です。
- Children are treasures.
- 子供たちの未来を考える。
- To think about the future of children.
대화 시작하기
"お子さんはいらっしゃいますか？ (Do you have children?)"
"週末にお子さんと何をしますか？ (What do you do with your children on weekends?)"
"子供の頃、どんな遊びが好きでしたか？ (What kind of games did you like when you were a child?)"
"お子さんの好きな食べ物は何ですか？ (What are your children's favorite foods?)"
"お子さんが日本語を勉強していますか？ (Are your children studying Japanese?)"
일기 주제
子供の頃の一番楽しかった思い出は何ですか？ (What is your happiest childhood memory?)
もし子供がいたら、どんなことを一緒にしたいですか？ (If you had children, what would you like to do with them?)
子供の視点から世界を見たら、何が違うと思いますか？ (If you looked at the world from a child's perspective, what do you think would be different?)
あなたが子供の頃に学んだ一番大切な教訓は何ですか？ (What is the most important lesson you learned as a child?)
子供たちにとって、どんな未来を望みますか？ (What kind of future do you hope for children?)
셀프 테스트 42 질문
私には___が二人います。 (I have two children.)
「こども」 means 'child' or 'children'.
公園で___が遊んでいます。 (Children are playing in the park.)
「こども」 refers to children.
あの___はとても元気です。 (That child is very energetic.)
「こども」 means 'child'.
___は学校に行きます。 (Children go to school.)
「こども」 is the correct word for children.
先生は___たちに日本語を教えます。 (The teacher teaches Japanese to the children.)
「こども」 is the term for children.
___が絵を描いています。 (A child is drawing a picture.)
「こども」 means 'child'.
What is the child doing?
How is my child?
What are the children doing?
Read this aloud:
子供
Focus: Ko-do-mo
당신의 답변:
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Read this aloud:
子供はかわいいです。
Focus: Kodomo wa kawaii desu.
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
子供がいますか？
Focus: Kodomo ga imasu ka?
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Choose the correct particle to complete the sentence: 彼の___は毎日公園で遊びます。
「彼の子供」means 'his child'. The particle の indicates possession.
Which sentence correctly uses 「子供」?
「私は子供がいます」means 'I have children'. The other sentences are grammatically incorrect or semantically nonsensical in this context.
What is the most natural way to say 'The children are sleeping'?
The particle が is used to mark the subject of an intransitive verb like 寝る (to sleep) when the subject is not the topic.
The sentence 「子供は公園に行きました。」 means 'The children went to the park.'
「子供」 (kodomo) means 'child' or 'children', 「公園」 (kōen) means 'park', and 「行きました」 (ikimashita) is the past tense of 'to go'.
It is grammatically correct to say 「私の子供はとても小さいです。」 to mean 'My child is very small.'
「私の子供」means 'my child', 「とても」means 'very', and 「小さいです」means 'is small'. This is a perfectly natural and correct sentence.
「子供」 can only refer to a single child, not multiple children.
「子供」 can refer to both a single child or multiple children, depending on the context. It is a common characteristic of Japanese nouns not to have explicit plural forms.
The children are playing in the park.
She has two children.
I often sang this song when I was a child.
Read this aloud:
子供の時に見た夢を覚えていますか？
Focus: Kodomo no toki ni mita yume o oboete imasu ka?
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
子供たちの笑顔が私を幸せにします。
Focus: Kodomotachi no egao ga watashi o shiawase ni shimasu.
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
将来、子供が欲しいです。
Focus: Shōrai, kodomo ga hoshii desu.
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
公園で遊んでいる___たちの笑い声が聞こえる。
The sentence talks about laughter from those playing in the park, which implies children. '大人' means adult, '動物' means animal, and '先生' means teacher.
彼女は自分の___に、将来の夢についてよく話しています。
The sentence suggests someone talking about future dreams to their own offspring. '両親' means parents, '同僚' means colleague, and '上司' means boss.
その問題は、___にも理解できるような簡単な言葉で説明された。
The sentence implies that the problem was explained in simple terms, understandable even by children. '専門家' means expert, '学者' means scholar, and '大人' means adult.
親は___の成長を願い、様々な経験をさせてあげたいと思っている。
Parents wish for the growth of their children and want them to have various experiences. '友達' means friend, '自分' means oneself, and '生徒' means student.
戦争によって多くの___が教育を受ける機会を失った。
War often deprives children of educational opportunities. '兵士' means soldier, '大人' means adult, and '老人' means elderly person.
昔は___がたくさんいて、近所の道でいつも遊んでいたものだ。
In the past, there were many children who always played on the neighborhood streets. '車' means car, '店' means shop, and '家' means house.
以下の文で、「子供」が最も適切に使われているのはどれですか？
この文脈では、「子供」は成長した人に対して使われているため、適切ではありません。他の選択肢は、「子供」を文字通りの意味で使っており、正しいです。
「子供扱いする」という表現が当てはまる状況はどれですか？
「子供扱いする」とは、大人を未熟な子供のように扱うことを指します。能力を疑うような態度はこの意味に合致します。
次のうち、「子供」という言葉が比喩的に使われている文はどれですか？
この文では「子供じみた」とあり、行動が子供っぽいという比喩的な意味で使われています。他の選択肢は文字通りの意味です。
「子供心」という言葉は、大人が持つ純粋で無邪気な気持ちを表す。
「子供心」とは、大人が忘れてしまいがちな、子供のような純粋さや好奇心、無邪気な気持ちを指します。
「子供の使い」という表現は、非常に重要な任務を任された子供を指す。
「子供の使い」とは、使い道の限られた、小さな頼み事や軽い用事を指すことが多く、重要な任務とは異なります。
「子沢山」という言葉は、子供が少ない家庭を指す。
「子沢山」とは、文字通り「子供がたくさんいる」という意味で、子供が多い家庭を指します。
The children solved the complex puzzle with surprising ease.
I am convinced that it is precisely today's children who will bear the future society.
The importance of discovering the talent of each child in education cannot be overemphasized.
Read this aloud:
現代社会における子供たちの精神的健康を維持するためには、どのような施策が有効だとお考えですか？
Focus: げんだいしゃかいにおける こどもたちの せいしんてきけんこうを いじするためには、どのような しさくが ゆうこうだと おかんがえですか？
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
子供の教育において、自主性を育むことと規律を重んじることのバランスは、どのように取るべきだと思いますか？
Focus: こどもの きょういくにおいて、じしゅせいを はぐくむことと きりつを おもんじることの バランスは、どのように とるべきだと おもいますか？
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
地域社会が子供たちの成長に果たす役割について、具体的な事例を挙げながら説明してください。
Focus: ちいきしゃかいが こどもたちの せいちょうに はたす やくわりについて、ぐたいてきな じれいを あげながら せつめいしてください。
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
관련 콘텐츠
이 단어를 다른 언어로
family 관련 단어
還暦
B160th birthday (celebration of completing a 60-year cycle).
〜くらい
B1About; approximately; to the extent that.
認め合う
B1To recognize each other's worth; to acknowledge.
知人
B1Acquaintance.
顔見知り
A2Acquaintance; someone you know by sight.
甘える
B1To be spoiled, to fawn; to behave like a pampered child.
活発な
B1Active; lively; vigorous.
思春期
B1Adolescence; the period of transition from childhood to adulthood.
養子
B1Adopted child; a child taken into one's family by legal means.
養親
B2Adoptive parent.
