aborted fetus; miscarried fetus; stillborn fetus
Only with reading みずこ / みずご
Refers to a fetus that was aborted, miscarried, or stillborn. Often used in the context of 水子地蔵 (Mizuko Jizō), a Buddhist deity for the protection of such souls.
I prayed to the Mizuko Jizō.
Dialectal use in the Chūbu region for a newborn baby. Not standard Japanese; in standard Japanese, 新生児 or 赤ちゃん is used.
彼女は水子の供養をしている。
She performs memorial services for her miscarried child.
Around here, a newborn baby is sometimes called 'mizuko'.
Standard medical term for a newborn baby, unlike the dialectal 水子.
Common, affectionate term for a baby, used nationwide.
Medical term for miscarriage, while 水子 refers to the fetus itself, often in a spiritual context.
Standard kanji spelling for the primary sense of aborted, miscarried, or stillborn fetus.
Rarely used kanji form.
Rarely used kanji form; Also has a rare reading ちし.
The kanji 水 (water) and 子 (child) combine to mean 'water child', likely referring to the fluid-filled environment of the womb or the idea of a soul returning to water. The exact origin is uncertain.