赤ちゃん

• Reading: あかちゃん
• Romaji: akachan
• Kanji breakdown: 赤 (aka) — red
• Pronunciation: /a.ka.tɕaɴ/

Meaning

Baby; infant. An affectionate term for a very young child.

The standard word for a baby in Japanese. Derived from 赤 (aka, 'red') because newborns have reddish skin. The ちゃん suffix adds a sense of endearment. Used universally across all social contexts when referring to infants.

Examples

1. 赤ちゃんがよく眠っています。 The baby is sleeping soundly.
2. 姉に赤ちゃんが生まれました。 My older sister had a baby.
3. 赤ちゃんの名前はまだ決まっていません。 The baby's name hasn't been decided yet.

Usage Guide

Context: family, daily life, hospitals

Tone: affectionate

Origin & History

From 赤 (aka, 'red') + ちゃん (diminutive suffix). Named for the reddish appearance of newborn babies. The ちゃん suffix conveys affection.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal