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.
The official term for a juvenile reformatory under current Japanese law. It is the most common and neutral word.
He was sent to reform school for theft.
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.
That kid turned his life around after going to reform school.
An abbreviation of 少年院, used in very casual or insider contexts, like among youth or in fiction.
I heard that guy's a reform school grad.
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.
Reform schools were later renamed to juvenile training schools.