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道Nihongo Path
児

児·child

On-yomi
ジニ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

7 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
児童じどうchild, schoolchild
小児科しょうにかpediatrics
育児いくじchildcare, child-rearing
幼児ようじinfant, small child

Example sentences

  1. 図書館で児童向けの本を借りた。

    としょかんでじどうむけのほんをかりた。

    I borrowed some children's books at the library.

  2. 熱が下がらないので小児科に連れて行った。

    ねつがさがらないのでしょうにかにつれていった。

    His fever wouldn't go down, so I took him to the pediatrician.

  3. 夫は育児休暇を三か月取った。

    おっとはいくじきゅうかをさんかげつとった。

    My husband took three months of childcare leave.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 小児科 as しょうじか — this compound uses the rarer ニ reading: しょうにか
  • Confusing 児童 (schoolchild) with 幼児 (infant) — 児童 usually means primary-school age

Memory aid

Picture it

A small unsealed head over little legs (儿) — a toddler whose skull has not yet closed, walking about.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 児 mean?