Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 赤ちゃん | akachan | [a̠ka̠t͡ɕã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 赤ん坊 | akanbō | [a̠kã̠mbo̞ː] (narrow) |
| 嬰児 | eiji | |
| 幼児 | yōji | [jo̞ːʑi] (narrow) |
| 赤子 | akago | [se̞kʲiɕi] (narrow) |
| ベビー | bebī | [be̞bʲiː] (narrow) |
| 乳飲み子 | chinomigo | [t͡ɕino̞mʲiɡo̞] (narrow) |
The terms in Japanese for a very young human being range from affectionate daily speech to technical medical terminology. While 赤ちゃん is the standard and affectionate way to refer to a baby, other forms like 赤ん坊 are more descriptive or objective. In commercial settings, the English loanword ベビー is frequently used, such as when discussing baby products.
Which one should you use?
赤ちゃん is the most common and affectionate way to refer to a baby in daily conversation. In contrast, 赤ん坊 (akanbō) is slightly more objective or descriptive. 幼児 (yōji) differs from the others as it refers to a young child or toddler, typically aged 1, 6 and is used in educational or medical contexts rather than for a newborn. ベビー (bebī) is a loanword used primarily in commercial contexts. 赤子 (akago) is a literary or poetic term, and 嬰児 (eiji) is a highly formal, technical term used in legal or medical documents. For a newborn specifically, you may also see 新生児 or the formal medical term 乳児.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
赤ちゃん is the standard and widely used informal term. 赤ん坊 is more objective and suitable for descriptive purposes. 赤子 and 嬰児 are much more formal, with the latter being used in technical, legal or medical documents. 幼児 is used in formal educational or medical settings to describe toddlers. ベビー is used in a commercial register.
How do you pronounce it?
akachan
Did you know?
- The Japanese concept of describing a baby as 'red' is mirrored in Malay, where the phrase 'anak merah' literally means 'child red'.
- The suffix '-chan' in 赤ちゃん is not just a part of the word, but a familiarizing tool that adds a sense of affection and cuteness to the noun.
- The suffix ちゃん in 赤ちゃん is a familiarizing honorific, making the very word for baby inherently affectionate.
Examples in context
- 彼は赤子同然だ。He is no better than a baby.This sentence shows how to use 赤子 in a comparison to describe someone's behavior.Tatoeba #2252471 by bunbuku, translation #300593 by CC
- 彼は赤ん坊同然だ。He's just like a baby.This sentence demonstrates the use of 赤ん坊 in a comparison.Tatoeba #103100 by bunbuku, translation #2769666 by CK
- 赤ちゃんは大丈夫？Is the baby OK?This sentence shows a common way to ask about the well-being of a 赤ちゃん.Tatoeba #8714261 by bunbuku, translation #3333934 by CK
- 250 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are looking at a photo of a newborn.
- 美咲 Misakiこの赤ちゃん、とてもかわいいね。Kono akachan, totemo kawaii ne.This baby is so cute, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だね。誰に似てるかな。Hontō da ne. Dare ni niteru kana.It really is. I wonder who they look like.
- 美咲 Misakiお鼻が赤ちゃんのお父さんに似てるよ。O-hana ga akachan no otōsan ni niteru yo.The baby's nose looks like the father's.
- 大翔 Hiroto確かにそうだね。Tashika ni sō da ne.That's certainly true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries 赤ちゃん, 赤ん坊, 嬰児, 幼児, 赤子, ベビー, 乳飲み子, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 赤ちゃん, 赤ん坊, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
