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子 means 'child'

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Strokes : 3    Radical number: 39    Frequency: 9   JLPT: N5    Usefulness: 1    Study set: 1-2    Grade: 1   Intermediate lesson: 1    Beginner lesson: 7   Begins 183 words   Used in 2025 words   Used in 21856 names   Component in 145 kanji (19 Jōyō)
Jōyō (常用)
Common readings
On
   シ   ス
Kun
   こ child
Additional readings
On    ツ
Kun    ね
Name    い   き   ぎ   く   け   ねっ
Variants
⼦   孑  
Notes
孑 (child) means 'mosquito larva', but when used as a component we refer to it as 'child'
It's obvious why the "child" radical 子 would play a part in 孝 (filial piety) and 孫 (grandchild) etymologically, but how did children get inside 学 (learn), 字 (character), and 孤 (alone)? Read to find out!
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Most useful words by reading
In the most useful 10,000 words in Japanese, 子 is used 55 times, read 3 ways (with 2 variations). 3 words use a non-standard reading.
Across all words in Japanese, 子 is used 1788 times, read 5 ways (with 4 variations). 3 words use a non-standard reading.
Showing:
シ : 1168 words FIND ALL
だ ん し 1
noun
youth; young man
(click the word for examples and links)
ス : 66 words FIND ALL
よ う す 0
noun
1. state; state of affairs; situation; circumstances
2. appearance; look; aspect
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 2 forms, examples and links)
シ (read as じ) : 41 words FIND ALL
お う じ 1
noun
1. prince
2. subordinate Kumano shrine
(click the word for examples and links)
ス (read as ず) : 7 words FIND ALL
り ん ず 0
noun
figured satin
(click the word to view an additional 1 form, examples and links)
ツ : 1 word FIND ALL
noun
type of lacquerware plate
(click the word for examples and links)
こ : 368 words FIND ALL
お と こ の こ 3
expression, noun
boy; male child; baby boy
(click the word to view an additional 5 forms, examples and links)
ね : 14 words FIND ALL
expression, noun
1. Day of the Rat (esp. the first Day of the Rat in the New Year)
2. collecting herbs and pulling out young pine trees by the roots  (see also: 子の日の遊び; abbreviation)
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading and 1 meaning, examples and links)
こ (read as ご) : 119 words FIND ALL
ふ た ご 0
noun
twins; twin
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading and 3 forms, examples and links)
け: 1 word. FIND ALL
noun
brush; commutator brush
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, examples and links)
Part of a non-standard reading: 3 words. FIND ALL
む す こ 0
noun
1. son
2. penis  (vulgar expression or word; this meaning is restricted to reading むすこ)
(click the word to view an additional 3 forms, examples and links)
An additional one less common word includes 子 but the reading has not yet been categorized.
Quick links
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More information
Wiktionary ⇗ | Unicode.org ⇗ | Google Japan ⇗ | Hanziyuan etymology ⇗
Additional data
Henshall: 40 (originally: 25)  Joy o' Kanji : 25  Key to Kanji: 413 

Cascading kanji view

子
シ   ス   こ child   
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