Translation guide
A correctional institution for juvenile delinquents. In Japanese, the term varies by legal era and formality, with 少年院 being the modern standard.
The standard term for a reform school in contemporary Japan, used in legal and everyday contexts.
Historical term for reform schools, often seen in literature or pre-1945 contexts.
Casual ways to refer to reform school, often used in conversation or media.
The verb phrase 'to enter reform school' is the most natural way to express being sent there.
あの子は少年院に入ってから更生した。
That kid turned his life around after going to reform school.
The English phrase 'reform school' is sometimes translated literally as 改革学校 (かいかくがっこう), but this is incorrect and not used in Japanese. Always use 少年院 or the historical terms above.
The official term for a juvenile reformatory under current Japanese law. It is the most common and neutral word.
彼は窃盗で少年院に送られた。
He was sent to reform school for theft.
An older term used before the current system. It carries a nuance of moral reform and is now largely historical.
戦前は非行少年を感化院に収容していた。
Before the war, juvenile delinquents were placed in reform schools.
Another pre-war term, sometimes used interchangeably with 感化院, but less common.
教護院は後に少年院に改称された。
Reform schools were later renamed to juvenile training schools.
An abbreviation of 少年院, used in very casual or insider contexts, like among youth or in fiction.
あいつ、少院上がりらしいよ。
I heard that guy's a reform school grad.