Proverb / Kotowaza
一姫二太郎
The idea that having a daughter as the first child and a son as the second is the ideal birth order.
First a girl, second a boy
Quick Answer
The idea that having a daughter as the first child and a son as the second is the ideal birth order.
- Literal Image
- First a girl, second a boy
- How to Use It
- Used when discussing family composition or birth order. It can be used to describe a family that has an older sister and a younger brother as having a perfect or lucky balance.
Meaning
This expression suggests that having a girl first is ideal because they are traditionally perceived as being easier to raise. Once parents have gained experience and confidence in childcare with their first daughter, they are better prepared for the challenges of raising a son as their second child.
Literal Image
First a girl, second a boy
How to Use It
Used when discussing family composition or birth order. It can be used to describe a family that has an older sister and a younger brother as having a perfect or lucky balance.
Tone
Informal and observational; it reflects traditional views on child-rearing and can be used as a positive comment.
Examples
うちは一姫二太郎で理想的だと言われる。
We are told that our family is ideal because we have a daughter first and a son second.
一姫二太郎は育てやすいという昔の知恵。
The idea that having a girl followed by a boy is easy to raise is an old piece of wisdom.
友人の家はまさに一姫二太郎の構成だ。
My friend's family is composed exactly of a daughter followed by a son.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses simple number kanji and words like princess and son, but the specific idiomatic meaning regarding birth order is not immediately obvious.
一
いち / ichi
one / first
姫
ひめ / hime
princess / girl
二
に / ni
two / second
太郎
たろう / taro
boy / eldest son
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be mindful that this reflects traditional gender stereotypes regarding child-rearing difficulty.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this as meaning 'one girl and two boys'. The 'two' refers to the second child, not the quantity of boys.
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Origin and Nuance
The proverb is based on the traditional observation that girls were less likely to fall ill and were considered easier to raise than boys. By having a girl first, parents could gain experience in childcare before the arrival of a second child, who is ideally a boy. It is a point of clarification that this phrase refers to the birth order (1st child: girl, 2nd child: boy) rather than a total count of three children (one girl and two boys).
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.