赤ん坊

• Reading: あかんぼう
• Romaji: akanbou
• Kanji breakdown: 赤 (aka/seki) — red; 坊 (bou) — boy, young person
• Pronunciation: /a.kaɴ.boː/

Meaning

A baby; an infant. A very young child, typically under one year old.

Refers to a newborn or very young baby. The name comes from the reddish skin of newborns (赤い, red). More neutral in tone than 赤ちゃん (akachan), which is the more common and affectionate everyday term. Both are widely understood but 赤ちゃん appears more frequently in casual conversation.

Examples

1. 隣の家に赤ん坊が生まれました。 A baby was born at the house next door.
2. 赤ん坊が泣いているのが聞こえます。 I can hear a baby crying.
3. 赤ん坊を抱くのは初めてです。 This is my first time holding a baby.

Usage Guide

Context: family, daily life, childcare

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 赤 (aka, red) and 坊 (bou, boy/young one). Babies were called 'red ones' because of the reddish color of a newborn's skin.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal