How to say "child" in Japanese

• 子こJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Covers a child or kid of any age, and its range extends to teenagers and youngsters, so it is not confined to small children; a safe choice when age does not matter.
  その子こは母親ははおやに甘あまえた。↗

  The child played the baby to his mother.
• 子供こどもJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe plain, general word for a child or children; when you simply mean 'a child' or 'the children' with no special coloring, this is the word you will usually want.
  あなたには何人なんにん子供こどもがいますか。↗

  How many children do you have?
• チャイルドCommon
  nounA katakana borrowing of the English word, found chiefly in fixed expressions and specialized vocabulary; standing alone it is seldom how you would actually refer to a child.
• 小人しょうにんCommon
  nounRefers to a child, especially one of elementary school age or younger; with its focus on young children it is a narrower choice than the general words.
  ５歳さい未満みまんの小人しょうにんは、入場料にゅうじょうりょうは要いりません。↗

  There is no admission fee for children under five.
• 坊やぼうやJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA familiar, affectionate term whose main senses are 'boy' and 'son'; for the plain sense 'child' it is seldom the right word, since it always colors the remark with fondness.
  あっちへ行いきな、ぼうや。↗

  Out of my way, boy.

Use 子供 for a child in general, 子 for the broadest range including teenagers, 小人 for children of elementary-school age or younger, 「坊や」 affectionately for a boy or son, and 「チャイルド」 only in fixed loanword expressions.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 子こchild
• 子供こどもchild
• チャイルドchild
• 小人しょうにんchild (esp. one of elementary school age or younger)
• 坊やぼうやboy
• お子様おこさま(another's) child
• 子宝こだからthe treasure that is children
• 童子どうじboy
• 子しchild (esp. a boy)
• 児じchild
• お子おこ(another's) child
• 童わらべchild
• 童わらしchild
• わっぱchild
• 子種こだねchild
• アンファンchild
• お子さんおこさんchild
• 人の子ひとのこ(someone's) child
• 孺子じゅしchild
• じゃりんこchild
• お子ちゃまおこちゃまchild
• 稚児ちごinfant
• 稚ややbaby
• こわっぱboy
• 幼ようinfancy
• 小僧っ子こぞっこbrat
• 少年しょうねんjuvenile
• じゃりchild
• 申し子もうしごchild (e.g. of an era)
• 小人しょうじんchild
• 若わかchild (esp. of the young son of someone of high social standing)
• 所生しょせいchild
• お友達おともだちchild (one does not know)
• まめchild