Meaning and Usage
"子供" (こども) means "child" or "children" and is used to refer to young people, typically from infancy to early teens. It is a common noun used in everyday conversation.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "子供" when talking about family, education, or activities involving young people. It can refer to one's own children or children in general.
Collocations and Patterns
- 子供が遊ぶ (children play): describing children’s activities.
- 子供のころ (when I was a child): used to talk about childhood memories.
- 子供を育てる (to raise children): common phrase about parenting.
Register and Nuance
"子供" is neutral and polite enough for everyday use. It is not formal but perfectly acceptable in most social contexts. Avoid confusing it with "子供たち" which explicitly pluralizes children.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "子供" with "子ども" (same reading, different writing). Both are correct, but "子ども" is often preferred in modern texts for readability. Also, "子供" can sometimes be used metaphorically, but usually it means literal children.