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N5

Kanji 子: meanings, readings, and example words.

3 min read

Kanji 子: child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM, first sign of Chinese zodiac

Key takeaways

Kanji 子: child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM, first sign of Chinese zodiac. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N5

Meaning

childsign of the rat11PM-1AMfirst sign of Chinese zodiac

On reading

Kun reading

-こ

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 子

child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM, first sign of Chinese zodiac

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

This character is a pictograph of a small child with a large head and outstretched arms, wrapped in a swaddle. You can easily remember the shape by imagining a cute baby lying down. It is a fundamental kanji meaning 'child' or 'offspring'.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

  • 原子げんし

    atom

  • 子息しそく

    son

  • 梯子ていし

    ladder / steps

  • 分子ぶんし

    molecule / numerator

  • 利子りし

    interest (bank money)

  • 子孫しそん

    descendants / offspring / future generations

  • 障子しょうじ

    paper sliding door

  • 末っ子すえっこ

    youngest child

Kun reading

  • 捻子ねじ

    screw / spiral / helix

  • 末っ子すえっこ

    youngest child

  • 判子はんこ

    seal / stamp for signature

  • child / kid

  • 息子むすこ

    son (humble)

  • 男の子おとこのこ

    boy / young male child

  • 女の子おんなのこ

    girl / young female child

  • 子供こども

    child / children

Commonly used words

  • 原子
    げんし

    atom

  • 子息
    しそく

    son

  • 梯子
    ていし

    ladder / steps

  • 分子
    ぶんし

    molecule / numerator

  • 利子
    りし

    interest (bank money)

  • 子孫
    しそん

    descendants / offspring / future generations

  • 捻子
    ねじ

    screw / spiral / helix

  • 末っ子
    すえっこ

    youngest child

  • 判子
    はんこ

    seal / stamp for signature

  • child / kid

  • 息子
    むすこ

    son (humble)

  • 男の子
    おとこのこ

    boy / young male child

Example sentences

Example 1

おなごが公園で遊んでいる。

Translation

The girl is playing in the park.

Example 2

あの店にはおなごが多い。

Translation

That store has many young women.

Example 3

水は原からできています。

Translation

Water is made of atoms.

Example 4

の構造を勉強しました。

Translation

I studied the structure of atoms.

Kanji 子: child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM, first sign of Chinese zodiac | Daily Nihongo