嫡子
Meanings
1
Refers to the child entitled to inherit a family headship, title, or estate, especially under traditional or historical succession rules.
He was raised strictly as the heir of a distinguished family.
2
Specifically a child born in wedlock, as opposed to a child born out of wedlock (非嫡出子). Often used in legal or genealogical contexts.
Under the law at that time, there was a difference in inheritance rights between legitimate and illegitimate children.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉を嫡子に指定するto designate someone as the (legal) heir
Father designated his younger brother as the heir.
- 嫡子として家督を継ぐto inherit the family headship as the legitimate heir
The eldest son inherited the family headship as the legitimate heir.
- 嫡子に生まれるto be born as a legitimate child
He was born as the legitimate child of the legal wife.