Child in Japanese 🇯🇵

こども info.

こども (kodomo)

Tips to Remember:
1. Phonetic similarity: Note that "ko" sounds like "co" in co-mmunity, and "do" sounds like "dough." Think of "do" as in "dough" or "do it."
2. Visual mnemonic: Picture a "kid" (child) with a "door" (do). Imagine a child playing by opening and closing a door.
3. Kana mnemonic: こ (ko) looks a bit like a simplified outline of a child's head; と (to) looks a bit like a simple stick figure with arms but missing legs, and も (mo) looks somewhat like a boat or vehicle that a child might play with.

Explanations:
– こ (ko) means "small" or "child" in various combinations.
– ども (domo) is a suffix that can refer to people in a humble or informal way, and when paired with こ becomes "children".

Other Words That Mean the Same Thing:
– 子供 (こども, kodomo) in kanji.
– 幼児 (ようじ, youji): specifically refers to a young child or a toddler.

Alternate Meanings:
– Slang: In some contexts, こども can be used more broadly to refer informally to someone's offspring or even metaphorically for someone who acts immaturely.
– Extending meaning: It can also refer to "children" in general, not necessarily just one child, depending on the context.

Examples of Sentences:
1. 彼はとてもかわいいこどもです。
Kare wa totemo kawaii kodomo desu.
(He is a very cute child.)

2. そのこどもたちは公園で遊んでいます。
Sono kodomotachi wa kouen de asondeimasu.
(The children are playing in the park.)

3. 私の友達は教師で、毎日こどもと話します。
Watashi no tomodachi wa kyoushi de, mainichi kodomo to hanashimasu.
(My friend is a teacher, and talks to children every day.)

4. こどもは早く寝るべきです。
Kodomo wa hayaku neru beki desu.
(Children should go to bed early.)

5. あなたのこどもは何歳ですか？
Anata no kodomo wa nansai desu ka?
(How old is your child?)

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