Musuko 息子

musuko means

Kanji

musuko musuko 息子.

The word written with kanji is息子.

kanji can be read as ko 子, but normally you don't read 息 as musu. So how come 息子 is read musuko?

Note that the 子can be read as子, but normally you don't read 息 as. So how come 息子 is read

musuko is a

But then where does the musu come from? From the word musu 生す, which means to give birth to, to spawn, to grow something from nothing, etc. (reference:

This happens becauseis a jukujikun 熟字訓 reading, so it doesn't conform to the standard readings of the kanji But then where does thecome from? From the word生す, which means to give birth to, to spawn, to grow something from nothing, etc. (reference: 息子 - gogen-allguide.com

Musukosan

musuko does not. Why is that? Why musuko doesn't have a

Well, this happens because honorifics are used to make reverence, and though you'd normally make a reverence toward your elders, it'd be silly to do the same toward your juniors. That's why musuko doesn't have a san, but the words for "father" and "mother," otousan and okaasan, do.

Note, however, that the word musukosan 息子さん does exist. Because when you're speaking about other people, in this case, other people's sons, then using the honorific is a sign of respect. Based on this, musuko is often your own son, while musukosan is pretty much always someone else's son.

You may have that, while a bunch of words for family members in Japanese follow an o__san お〇〇さん pattern , the worddoes not. Why is that? Whydoesn't have a san honorific in it?Well, this happens because honorifics are used to make reverence, and though you'd normally make a reverence toward your elders, it'd be silly to do the same toward your juniors. That's whydoesn't have a, but the words for "father" and "mother,"and, do.Note, however, that the word息子さん does exist. Because when you're speaking about other people, in this case, other people's sons, then using the honorific is a sign of respect. Based on this,is often your own son, whileis pretty much always someone else's son.

Magomusuko

Sometimes the word musuko 息子 comes after the word mago 孫, which means "grandchild," turning into magomusuko 孫息子. This magomusuko means "grandson" instead of the neutral "grandchild."

Slang Usage

Colloquially, the term musuko may sometimes be used as a slang to refer to one's own penis instead of their son. I'll leave the reason for this to the reader's imagination.

In particular, the phrase—

• itsumo musuko ga osewa ni natteorimasu いつも息子がお世話になっております
  Often [my] son is in [your] care. (literally)
  Thank you for taking care of my son.

—is normally an innocent expression of gratitude, but, specially in the internet, it can mean something perverted instead.

The wordmeans "son" in Japanese , most of the time.