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男の子 (おとこのこ, otokonoko) Japanese meaning: boy | Kotomora

男おとこの子こ

お

と

こ

の

こ

Common word›JLPTN5›Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

expression, noun

boy; son; baby boy

Refers to a male child, from infancy through elementary school age. Can also mean 'son' when the relationship is clear from context.

See also: 女の子

公こう園えんで男

おとこ

の

子こ

たち

が

サッカー

を

し

て

いる

。

Boys are playing soccer in the park.

うちの男おとこの子こは今年ことし小しょう学がっ校こうに入はいります。

Our son will start elementary school this year.

2

expression, noun

Used for a young man, typically from adolescence to early adulthood, often in a somewhat casual or affectionate tone. Less common than sense 1.

See also: 女の子

あの男おとこの子こは大だい学がく生せいになったばかりだ。
That young man just started university.

Kanji

男male
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM

Related words

少しょう年ねんN3sense 1
男の子 is the everyday, casual word for a boy, whereas 少年 is a more formal or literary term often used in legal or official contexts.
男だん子しN3sense 1
男の子 refers to an individual boy or child, while 男子 is a more categorical term for males in general, as in a group or school setting.
坊ぼうやN2
男の子 is the neutral, everyday word for 'boy', while 坊や adds an affectionate or familiar tone, often used by adults speaking to or about a young child.
ボーイN3
男の子 is the neutral, everyday native Japanese word for 'boy', while ボーイ has a more casual or Western feel and is less common for young children.
男だん児じ
男の子 is the everyday, casual word for a boy, whereas 男児 is a formal or literary term used in news and official writing.

Opposites

女おんなの子こN5sense 1
男の子 refers to a boy or male child, while 女の子 is the female counterpart meaning girl or female child.

Don't confuse with

男おとこたち
男の子 means 'boy(s)' (young males), while 男たち refers to grown men, so the two should not be used interchangeably despite the shared 男 kanji.
男おとこの人ひとN4
男の子 means a boy or young male child, while 男の人 means an adult man; learners sometimes confuse the two due to their similar form.

Built from

男おとこ+子こ

Written forms

男おとこの子こUsage97%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
男おとこのコUsage3%
search-only kanji form
Search-only variant with katakana コ; not a standard spelling.
オトコノコUsage<1%

Etymology

Compound of 男 (otoko, 'man') + の (no, possessive particle) + 子 (ko, 'child'). Literally 'man's child' or 'male child'.