How to say "son" in Japanese

• 息子むすこJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe neutral, everyday word for one's own son; when you simply mean 'my son', this is the word. It is not honorific, so it does not serve for referring to someone else's son.
  母親ははおやは息子むすこにやかましく言いって聞きかせた。↗

  The mother whipped sense into her boy.
• 男の子おとこのこJLPT N5approx.Common
  expression, nounChiefly means 'boy'; it can also stand for one's son, but the emphasis remains on 'male child', so it sounds less neutral than 息子.
  あのハンサムな男の子おとこのこを見みて。↗

  Look at that good-looking boy.
• 坊やぼうやJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounAn affectionate, familiar word for a small boy; it can be used of one's own little son, but its basic feel is 'little boy' rather than a neutral word for son.
  あっちへ行いきな、ぼうや。↗

  Out of my way, boy.
• 子息しそくJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA formal word meaning another person's son, not one's own; it suits polite or written contexts and is not the word for casually speaking of your own son.
  ご子息しそくのご結婚けっこんを心こころよりお祝いわい申し上もうしあげます。↗

  Please accept our heartiest congratulations on the marriage of your son.
• 坊ちゃんぼっちゃんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounAn honorific way to refer to someone else's son; it also means 'boy' or 'young master', so it is not the neutral word for one's own son.
  御坊ごぼうちゃんに幸さいわいあれ。↗

  All our best to that little boy.

Use 息子 for your own son; for someone else's son pick the honorific 「坊ちゃん」 or the formal 子息; 「男の子」 and 「坊や」 are chiefly 'boy' words that can also stand for a young son.

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

• 息子むすこson
• 男の子おとこのこboy
• 坊やぼうやboy
• 子息しそく(another's) son
• 坊ちゃんぼっちゃん(another's) son
• 男児だんじboy
• 男なんson
• 息そくson
• サンson
• せがれson
• 令息れいそくson
• 愚息ぐそく(one's) son
• お坊ちゃんおぼっちゃんson (of others)
• 息子さんむすこさんson
• ご令息ごれいそくson
• 坊ちゃまぼっちゃま(another's) son
• お坊ちゃまおぼっちゃま(another's) son
• 二世にせいson
• お坊さんおぼうさんson (of others)
• 坊ぼうboy