子 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
At its core, 子 means child. You'll see it standing on its own to mean a kid or a young one (子, 子供), and it's the key piece in the very common words 男の子 ("boy") and 女の子 ("girl"). Beyond literal children, 子 also turns up as a sound-only piece inside words that have nothing to do with kids — like 帽子 ("hat") and 椅子 ("chair") — where it's just borrowed for its シ reading. So when you meet 子, ask first whether the word is about a person; if not, it's probably one of those "small object" words where 子 is along for the ride.
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| kun'yomi | こ | 子供 (child), 男の子 (boy), 女の子 (girl), 子 (child) |
| on'yomi | シ | 帽子 (ぼうし, hat), 椅子 (いす, chair) |
| on'yomi | ス | 様子 (ようす, appearance / state) — less common |
Here's the rule of thumb that helps with most kanji: the kun'yomi (こ) shows up when 子 refers to an actual child, often standing alone or attached with の (男の子). The on'yomi (シ / ス) appears inside fixed compounds like 帽子 and 様子. The everyday winner is こ by a wide margin — シ and ス mostly live in a handful of set words you can memorize one at a time.
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 3, written top to bottom. Start with the short horizontal top, then the long vertical curving hook down the middle, and finish with the horizontal stroke that crosses through it.
- Radical: 子 is its own radical, the "child" radical (こ / こへん). When it sits on the left of another kanji, it's a clue the kanji relates to children or family — you'll meet it again in 字 ("character / letter") and 学 ("to learn / study"), both of which sit on top of or beside 子.
Because it's only 3 strokes, 子 is a great one to drill until the curving hook in the middle feels automatic — you'll write it inside many other kanji later.
Common words using 子
Notice the reading split in action: when the word is about a person, 子 takes こ (子供, 男の子, 女の子). When it's a fixed "object" word, it flips to the on'yomi — シ in 帽子, ス in 様子. That's the rule of thumb above, working exactly as advertised.
Example sentences
ヤッタンは小さい子供のときから漢字が好きでした。
ヤッタンは ちいさい こどもの ときから かんじが すきでした。
Yattan has loved kanji ever since he was a small child.
子供 — the kun'yomi こ reading.
モチは赤い帽子をかぶった女の子を見ました。
モチは あかい ぼうしを かぶった おんなのこを みました。
Mochi saw a girl wearing a red hat.
Both readings in one sentence: 帽子 (シ) and 女の子 (こ). A great sentence to remember the split.
先生はヤッタンの弟の様子を心配していました。
せんせいは ヤッタンの おとうとの ようすを しんぱいして いました。
Sensei was worried about how Yattan's little brother was doing.
様子 uses the rarer on'yomi ス (ようす).
Quick recap
- 子 = child; just 3 strokes; it's the "child" radical itself.
- こ (kun) when it means an actual child — 子供, 男の子, 女の子.
- シ / ス (on) inside fixed compounds — 帽子 (シ), 様子 (ス).
- The middle curving hook is the tricky stroke; drill it until it's automatic.
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 子 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
How do you read 子 in 子供 vs 帽子?
In 子供 it's the kun'yomi こ (子供 = こども, 'child'). In 帽子 it's the on'yomi シ (帽子 = ぼうし, 'hat'). As a rule, when 子 means an actual child it's こ; in fixed object-words it takes the on'yomi.
How many strokes does 子 have?
子 has just 3 strokes and is also the 'child' radical. It appears inside other kanji such as 字 ('character') and 学 ('to learn').
Why does 子 sometimes have nothing to do with children?
In words like 帽子 (hat) and 椅子 (chair), 子 is borrowed only for its シ sound, not its meaning. It's a common pattern where a kanji lends its reading to round out a word.
What's the difference between こ, シ, and ス?
こ is the everyday kun'yomi for a child (子供, 男の子). シ and ス are on'yomi found in set compounds: シ in 帽子 and 椅子, ス in 様子. こ is by far the most common.