這子

這子

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
這	子
ほう Jinmeiyō	こ Grade: 1
Irregular

/hauko/ → /hɔːko/ → /hoːko/

Originally a compound of 這う (hau, “to crawl”) +‎ 子 (ko, “child”).[1][2][3]

Pronunciation

• (Irregular reading)
  • (Tokyo) ほ​ーこ [hóꜜòkò] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
  • IPA^(key): [ho̞ːko̞]

Alternative forms

• 這う子

Noun

這子 (hiragana ほうこ, rōmaji hōko, historical hiragana はふこ)

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)
• 御伽這子 (おとぎぼうこ) (otogibōko)
• 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

Compound of 這う (hau, “to crawl”) +‎ 子 (ko, “child”).[1][2][3]

Pronunciation

• (Irregular reading)
  • (Tokyo) は​うこ [háꜜùkò] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
  • IPA^(key): [ha̠ɯ̟ᵝko̞]

Alternative forms

• 這う子

Noun

這子 (hiragana はうこ, rōmaji hauko, historical hiragana はふこ)

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.

References

1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
3. 1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN