子供（こども、kodomo）
- child

The Japanese word 子供, pronounced こども (kodomo), primarily means "child" or "children." It refers to a young person or people, typically from infancy to adolescence. The specific age range can vary depending on context. It can also be used more broadly to refer to someone who is immature or behaves in a childlike manner.

⚫︎ あの子供は元気いっぱいです。 Translation: That child is full of energy. ⚫︎ 彼女は子供たちに絵本を読んであげました。 Translation: She read picture books to the children.

⚫︎ 子供 is a very common and versatile word. ⚫︎ It can be used in various contexts, from everyday conversations to more formal settings. ⚫︎ When addressing a group of children, the word is often used in the plural. ⚫︎ Use 子供 to refer to someone's offspring, particularly when speaking to others about them.

⚫︎ The standard way to write 子供 is with the kanji 子供. ⚫︎ However, when written without kanji, it’s こども in hiragana. ⚫︎ There is no variation in the okurigana.

⚫︎ 子(こ - ko): This means "child" and is used more generally. ⚫︎ 子どもたち(こどもたち - kodomotachi): This is the plural form of 子供 and means "children." ⚫︎ 坊や(ぼうや - bouya): "Boy" or "little boy" (informal). ⚫︎ 女の子(おんなのこ - onnanoko): "Girl" (usually younger girls). ⚫︎ 少年(しょうねん - shounen): "Boy" (teenage boy). ⚫︎ 少女(しょうじょ - shoujo): "Girl" (teenage girl).

⚫︎ 大人(おとな - otona): "Adult" ⚫︎ 年寄り(としより - toshiyori): "Elderly person"

私の子供は学校に行きました。 ・Translation: My child went to school. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 子供 to refer to the speaker’s child.

公園で多くの子供が遊んでいます。 ・Translation: Many children are playing in the park. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the activities of multiple children.

The kanji 子 (ko) means "child" and 供 (do or tomo) is from a word that means "companion, servant, or attendant". The word indicates "a servant or one who attends on somebody", and later meant “a child”, and in time has evolved to mean "a child". The combination therefore roughly translates to "child-companion" or "one who attends the child".