抱っこ
Meaning in English(child's) hug
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 抱っこ mean? It refers to the act of lifting a child into the arms and carrying them, typically to comfort or transport them; it functions as a noun and as the verb 抱っこする used to perform the action.
Main meanings
- the primary sense: holding a child in one's arms for comfort or transport — dakko
- an affectionate or playful holding of a baby or small pet, usually in casual speech — dakko
- a caregiver gesture widely used in family life; more common in spoken language than in formal writing — dakko
How to use it
Used in casual to intimate contexts, especially within family, childcare, and everyday conversations; the standard verb form is 抱っこする to perform the action, and 抱っこ itself can function as the noun for the act; it is less common in formal or technical writing.
Variants and close terms
- だっこ dakko — the common form identifying the act itself
- おんぶ onbu — carrying a child on the back, a related caregiving method
- 抱える kakaeru — to hold or bear something in one's arms, related but not identical in gesture
Composition
- 抱 = to embrace, hold close
- っ = small tsu, indicates gemination of the following consonant
- こ = suffix that helps form a noun indicating the act or gesture
Etymology
Etymology From the verb 抱く with the stem 抱っ- and the affectionate suffix こ, forming a noun that denotes the act of holding someone in the arms; the small っ signals a rapid consonant onset in the pronunciation.
Word class
Noun (名詞); also the basis for the verb 抱っこする