這子

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
這	子
ほう Jinmeiyō	こ Grade: 1
irregular	kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
這う子

/hauko/ → /hɔːko/ → /hoːko/

Originally a compound of 這う (hau, “to crawl”) +‎ 子 (ko, “child”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ほ​ーこ [hóꜜòkò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ho̞ːko̞]

Noun

這(ほう)子(こ) • (hōko) ^{←はふこ (fafuko)?}

1. a crawling baby
2. a protective charm for babies, made as a doll in the form of a baby, and intended to take on any misfortune in the real baby's stead
3. (rare) alternate name for 犬蓬 (inu yomogi, literally “dog mugwort”): Artemisia keiskeana, a kind of mugwort or wormwood

Synonyms

(protective doll):

• 天児(あまがつ) (amagatsu)
• 御(お)伽(とぎ)這(ぼう)子(こ) (otogi bōko)
• はいはい人(にん)形(ぎょう) (haihai ningyō)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
這	子
は(う) Jinmeiyō	こ Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
這う子

Compound of 這う (hau, “to crawl”) +‎ 子 (ko, “child”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) は​うこ [háꜜùkò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ha̠ɯ̟ᵝko̞]

Noun

這(はう)子(こ) • (hauko) ^{←はふこ (fafuko)?}

1. a crawling baby
2. a protective charm for babies, made as a doll in the form of a baby, and intended to take on any misfortune in the real baby's stead
3. (rare) alternate name for 犬蓬 (inu yomogi, literally “dog mugwort”): Artemisia keiskeana, a kind of mugwort or wormwood

Usage notes

This reading appears to be less common for the doll and dog mugwort senses.