also: しょうじ
noun
Medical or formal term for a young child, often used in contexts like 小児科 (pediatrics). In everyday speech, 子供 is more common.
小児科は子どもの病気を診る診療科です。
Pediatrics is the medical department that treats children's illnesses.
この薬は小児
This medicine cannot be used for young children.
Obsolete reading; it is out-dated kana usage.
Compound of 小 (small) and 児 (child). The reading しょうに is the standard Sino-Japanese on'yomi; しょうじ is an older, now obsolete reading.