noun
A young deer. Used in general contexts, literature, and nature descriptions.
森の中で子鹿を見つけた。
I found a fawn in the forest.
子鹿の斑点は成長すると消える。
The spots on a fawn disappear as it grows.
鹿 is the general term for 'deer', while 子鹿 specifically means a young deer (fawn).
Compound of 子 (こ, 'child') + 鹿 (しか, 'deer'), with rendaku voicing of しか to じか.