How to say 'Boy' in Japanese | 少年

Wondering how to say 'Boy' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Boy is 'Shounen', written as 少年 in Japanese.'Boy' in hiragana is しょうねん.

word

少年

Meaning

Boy

Reading

しょうねん

shounen

Kanji

少Few 年Year

Explanation

The Japanese noun '少年 (しょうねん)' refers to a 'boy', typically a young male child or adolescent. It is commonly used to describe boys in their pre-teen or teenage years. The term can also carry a sense of youthfulness or innocence. For example: The boy is running「少年は走っている」(しょうねんははしっている). I saw a boy playing in the park「公園で遊んでいる少年を見た」(こうえんであそんでいるしょうねんをみた). The word is often used in literature, media, and everyday conversation to refer to young males.

Part Of Speech

noun

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

787

Composition

kanji

Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 少年

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

kanji

少

Meaning

Few

kanji

年

Meaning

Year

Words Related to 少年 Through the Kanji 少

These 10 Words contain the Kanji 少 as well.

word

少し

Meaning

A little

word

少ない

Meaning

Few, Little

word

少しも

Meaning

Not at all

word

少々

Meaning

Slightly

word

少女

Meaning

Girl

word

少なくとも

Meaning

At least

word

少量

Meaning

Small amount

word

減少

Meaning

Decrease

word

少数

Meaning

Minority

word

多少

Meaning

Somewhat

Words Related to 少年 Through the Kanji 年

These 46 Words contain the Kanji 年 as well.

word

年

Meaning

Year

word

年下

Meaning

Younger

word

一昨年

Meaning

Year before last

word

年間

Meaning

Year

word

年金

Meaning

Pension

word

年齢

Meaning

Age

word

年度

Meaning

Year, Fiscal

word

青年

Meaning

Youth

word

今年

Meaning

This year

word

再来年

Meaning

Year after next

word

万年筆

Meaning

Fountain pen

word

年賀状

Meaning

New years card

word

毎年

Meaning

Every year

word

生年月日

Meaning

Birthdate

word

半年

Meaning

Half year

word

近年

Meaning

Recent

word

翌年

Meaning

Next year

word

年寄り

Meaning

Elderly

word

昨年

Meaning

Last year

word

元年

Meaning

First year

word

去年

Meaning

Last year

word

長年

Meaning

Many years

word

お年玉

Meaning

Money

word

年月

Meaning

Years

word

年月日

Meaning

Date

word

年々

Meaning

Yearly

word

年代

Meaning

Era, Age

word

中年

Meaning

Middle age

word

年中

Meaning

Year round

word

学年

Meaning

Grade

word

同年

Meaning

Same year

word

本年

Meaning

This year

word

晩年

Meaning

Later years

word

年長

Meaning

Older

word

年末

Meaning

Year end

word

来年

Meaning

Next year

word

忘年会

Meaning

Year end party

word

年配

Meaning

Elderly

word

年収

Meaning

Annual income

word

定年

Meaning

Retirement

word

年始

Meaning

New year

word

前年

Meaning

Previous year

word

年上

Meaning

Older

word

未成年

Meaning

Minor

word

例年

Meaning

Usual year

word

年賀

Meaning

New years card

Learn the Word 少年

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Shounen' (少年) mean?

'Shounen' means 'Boy' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.