Translation guide
A young person who commits crimes or engages in antisocial behavior. In Japanese, the most common term is 非行少年 (hikō shōnen), but there are legal, colloquial, and nuanced alternatives depending on context.
Referring to a young person who has committed a crime or is involved in delinquency in a general sense.
Standard term for a juvenile delinquent, used in legal and everyday contexts. Literally 'misconduct boy/young person'. Can refer to both boys and girls, though 少女 (shōjo) is used for girls.
彼は非行少年として補導された。
He was taken into custody as a juvenile delinquent.
More colloquial term for a delinquent boy, often implying a 'bad kid' or 'punk' rather than strictly legal delinquency. Common in everyday speech.
あの不良少年たちはいつもたむろしている。
Those juvenile delinquents are always hanging around.
Slang term for a delinquent youth, often associated with a specific subculture (dyed hair, modified school uniforms, etc.). Can be used for both boys and girls, though originally male-oriented.
彼は高校時代ヤンキーだった。
He was a juvenile delinquent in high school.
Referring to a juvenile delinquent in a legal or official context, such as in court or police reports.
Legal term for a minor under 14 who has committed an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult. Used in the Juvenile Law.
触法少年の事件は家庭裁判所に送られる。
Cases involving juvenile delinquents under 14 are sent to family court.
Legal term for a juvenile aged 14–19 who has committed a crime. More specific than 非行少年.
犯罪少年の更生プログラムが重要だ。
Rehabilitation programs for juvenile delinquents are important.
Specifically referring to a girl who is a juvenile delinquent.
Common term for a delinquent girl. Equivalent to 不良少年 for boys.
彼女は不良少女のグループに入った。
She joined a group of juvenile delinquent girls.
Slang term for a female delinquent, especially from the 1970s–80s subculture. Often associated with long skirts and gang leadership.
Describing a young person who is rebellious or engages in minor delinquency, not necessarily criminal.
A somewhat dated term for a delinquent or wayward youth. Can imply a 'rotten apple' or troublemaker.
彼は町のぐれ者として知られていた。
He was known as the town's juvenile delinquent.
非行少年 is the formal, legal term for a juvenile who has committed a crime or is at risk. 不良少年 is a more colloquial term for a 'bad kid' or 'punk', often used for rebellious teens who may not have committed serious crimes. In everyday conversation, 不良 is more common, while 非行少年 appears in news and official contexts.
The English phrase 'juvenile delinquent' is often translated directly as 少年非行者 (shōnen hikōsha), but this is not natural Japanese. Use 非行少年 or 不良少年 instead.
あのスケバンは強いことで有名だった。
That female juvenile delinquent was famous for being tough.