noun
sons and daughters; children
Formal term for one's own children or children in general, often used in legal, educational, or official contexts. Emphasizes the parent-child relationship.
彼は三人の子女を育て上げた。
He raised three children.
この学校は子女の教育に力を入れている。
This school focuses on the education of children.
noun
Rare, somewhat dated usage referring specifically to a girl or young woman, often in the context of upbringing or social standing. Modern Japanese usually uses 女の子 or 少女.
良家の子女として厳しくしつけられた。
She was strictly disciplined as a daughter of a good family.
Honorific term for someone else's daughter. 子女 is not honorific and can be used for one's own children.
Compound of 子 (child) and 女 (woman/female), originally referring to both sons and daughters. The second sense (girl) is a narrowing of the original meaning.