JLPT N5 · Japanese kanji
子 — child
- Reading
- シ・ス・ツ・こ・\~こ・ね
- Meaning
- child; sign of the rat; 11PM-1AM; first sign of Chinese zodiac
- JLPT level
- N5
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
子 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N5 level. Its primary reading is シ・ス・ツ・こ・\~こ・ね and it means child; sign of the rat; 11PM-1AM; first sign of Chinese zodiac. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
子 appears in everyday japanese words such as 子 (child), 分子 (numerator) and 利子 (interest).
Japanese words containing 子
Frequently asked questions
What does 子 mean in Japanese?
子 means child; sign of the rat; 11PM-1AM; first sign of Chinese zodiac in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N5 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 子 read?
子 is read シ・ス・ツ・こ・\~こ・ね. Reading it inside real words — 子 and 分子 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 子 — is it JLPT N5?
Yes. 子 is on the official JLPT N5 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 子 in a word?
A common word containing 子 is 子 (こ) — "child". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 子 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 子 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Learn every JLPT kanji in context
InputDojo gives you the full JLPT N5–N1 kanji list — plus one-tap lookups in any real Japanese content. Free to start.
Start free