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幼子 (おさなご, osanago) Japanese meaning: infant | Kotomora
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ご
を
抱だ
い
た
母はは
親おや
が
微笑ほほえ
ん
だ
。
The mother holding her infant smiled.
That little child cannot walk yet.
Usage patterns 幼おさな 子ご を 育そだ てる to raise a young child
She is raising a young child on her own.
幼おさな 子ご の 手て を 引ひ く to lead a young child by the hand
The mother walked along leading her young child by the hand.
幼おさな 子ご を 抱だ く to hold a young child in one's arms
The father gently held his young child in his arms.
Kanji 子 child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM 児 newborn babe, child, young of animals Related words 幼児 is the standard, technical term for a young child (used in official/medical contexts), while 幼子 carries a softer, more literary or affectionate tone.
赤ちゃん is the everyday, casual word for a baby, whereas 幼子 sounds more formal or poetic and can refer to a slightly older toddler as well.
乳児 is a clinical/legal term specifically for an infant under about one year old, while 幼子 is a warmer, literary word covering a slightly wider age range.
幼子 is the standard modern noun for a young child, while いと is an archaic, affectionate term rarely used outside classical or poetic contexts.
Counted with Used for children too, though 〜人 is more general than the animal-style counter.
Natural in formal contexts for counting children/people, especially in announcements or reservations.
Written forms 幼おさな 子ご Usage 80%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority in news and common usage.
幼おさ な 子ご Usage 20%
Variant spelling with okurigana; less common but still encountered.
幼おさな 児ご
This kanji form is usually read ようじ; reading it おさなご is rare and may cause confusion.
Etymology Compound of 幼 (おさな, 'very young') + 子 (こ, 'child'), with rendaku voicing こ → ご. The kanji 幼子 directly reflects the meaning.
