子 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

子: child; offspring; sign of the rat. JLPT N5; 3 strokes.

Readings

On readings

シ、ス

Kun readings

こ、ね

Romaji

shi, su, ko, ne

Study notes

子 means 'child, son' and, in a broader sense, 'small' or 'element'; it is also the first sign of the Chinese zodiac, the Rat.

On readings: シ in 女子 (じょし, girl, woman), 男子 (だんし, boy), 帽子 (ぼうし, hat), 原子 (げんし, atom), 利子 (りし, interest). ス appears in few words, but some are very common: 様子 (ようす, situation, appearance), 椅子 (いす, chair), 扇子 (せんす, fan).

Kun readings: こ, 'child': 子供 (こども, child), 子犬 (こいぬ, puppy), 双子 (ふたご, twins), 女の子 (おんなのこ, girl-child); in compound it can become ご, as in 迷子 (まいご, lost child). ね indicates the Rat sign: 子年 (ねどし, year of the Rat).

Special readings: 息子 (むすこ, male child) is read as a whole word.

Remember: 子 appears at the end of many Japanese feminine names (for example 花子, はなこ). Common are also food names 餃子 (ぎょうざ) and 団子 (だんご).

Example words

• 子ども (こども) — child; son or daughter
• 子音 (しいん) — consonant
• 様子 (ようす) — appearance; situation
• 女の子 (おんなのこ) — girl
• 子年 (ねどし) — year of the rat

Example sentences

あの子は元気です。

ano ko wa genki desu.

That child is doing well.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.