Japanese word

孫

Pronunciation

Romajimago

Meaning

  • noungrandchild

Example

孫と公園で遊びます。mago to kō en de aso bi ma su

I play in the park with my grandchild.

Illustration for 孫 (grandchild)

More examples

週末になると、孫が家に来ます。shū matsu ni na ru to mago ga ie ni ki ma su

On weekends, my grandchild comes to my house.

Core concept

Refers to a person connected to someone as the child of that person's son or daughter.

Common phrases

  • 孫と遊ぶmago to aso bu

    play with one's grandchild

  • 孫に会うmago ni a u

    see one's grandchild

  • 孫の世話mago no se wa

    care for one's grandchild

Similar words

お孫さんomagosan: A polite term for another person's grandchild.

Definition in Japanese

自分の子供の子供。ji bun no ko domo no ko domo

Word origin

The Japanese word まご (mago, "grandchild") is an old native term, formerly found as うまご (umago, "grandchild"); the Chinese character 孫 (son, "descendant") came to represent it in writing.

Usage tips

  • The English word grandchild covers both a boy and a girl, unlike the more specific terms grandson and granddaughter.

Word lists with this word