How to say "kid" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 子こnoun, noun (suffix)The neutral, everyday word for a child or kid of either sex. Use it whenever you simply mean a young person, as in talking about one's own or someone else's children.
- nounA direct borrowing of the English 'kid', referring to a child or youngster. It is the word to reach for when you want the English flavor, but 子 is usually the natural choice.
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbThis covers only the verb sense 'to kid', meaning to joke or jest around. It never refers to a child; do not use it when you mean a kid as a young person.
- 小僧こぞうnounRefers to a boy or youngster, often with a dismissive or derogatory shade like 'brat'. It applies only to boys and is not a neutral way to speak of a kid.
- 童子どうじnounA word for a boy or child with a somewhat literary or special flavor. It is seldom the word you want for an ordinary kid in everyday speech; 子 is the default.
Use 子 for a child in neutral contexts, 「キッド」 as the borrowed English word, 「ふざける」 only for the verb 'to kid (joke)', and 小僧 or 童子 for boys with particular nuances.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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