子

児

Reading

Kana: こ

Romaji: ko

Definitions

noun

n-suf

1

child

2

young (animal)

See also: 仔 (reading こ)

3

young woman; young geisha

Note: also 娘

4

offshoot

5

interest

See also: 元も子もない

6

new shares

Note: abbreviation

See also: 子株

noun

7

player who is not a dealer (in cards, mahjong, etc.)

See also: 親 (reading おや, entry #2)

noun

n-suf

8

bird egg

Note: archaism

n-suf

9

-er (often of young women)

Note: after a noun or -masu stem

Kanji

子

Readings: シ、 ス、 ツ、 こ、 -こ、 ね

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

児

Readings: ジ、 ニ、 ゲイ、 こ、 -こ、 -っこ

Meanings: newborn babe, child, young of animals

Example Sentences

花(はな)より団子(だんご)。

➥A loaf of bread is better than the songs of birds.

どう、調子(ちょうし)は？

➥What's happening?

その調子(ちょうし)だよ。

➥That's the way.

その調子(ちょうし)だ。

➥That's the spirit.

彼(かれ)は末(すえ)っ子(こ)だ。

➥He is the baby of the family.

子供達(こどもたち)は皆(みな)寝(ね)た。

➥All the children went to bed.