illegitimate child; child born out of wedlock
Refers to a child whose parents were not married at the time of birth. 'Bastard' is a strong, offensive equivalent; 'love child' is a softer, euphemistic term. In modern Japanese, this word can carry a stigma and is less commonly used in everyday conversation; terms like 非嫡出子 (ひちゃくしゅつし) are used in legal contexts.
He was born an illegitimate child and faced hardships.
In the past, there was strong prejudice against illegitimate children.
Another term for a child born outside of marriage, often used in social discussions. Similar in meaning but may be perceived as slightly less stigmatizing than 私生児.
illegitimate birth
Compound of 私 (し, 'private, personal') + 生 (せい, 'birth') + 児 (じ, 'child'). The kanji literally mean 'privately born child', reflecting the concept of a child born outside of formal marriage.