坊ぼうや

ぼ

う

や

JLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

familiar language

Affectionate or familiar term for a young boy, often used by parents or adults addressing a child. Can also refer to one's own son.

mere boy; stripling; greenhorn

derogatory

Derogatory or dismissive term for a young, inexperienced male. Implies immaturity or lack of skill.

〈人ひと〉は坊ぼうやだto call someone a mere boy/greenhorn (implying immaturity or lack of skill)
そんな初しょ歩ほ的てきなミスをするなんて、まだ坊ぼうやだな。
Making such a basic mistake—he's still just a greenhorn.
坊ぼうや、〈動どう詞し〉to address a young boy directly as '坊や' when telling him to do something
坊ぼうや、危あぶないから道どう路ろで遊あそばないでね。
Sweetie, don't play in the street, it's dangerous.
うちの坊ぼうやreferring affectionately to one's own young son
うちの坊ぼうやも来らい月げつで三さん歳さいになります。
My little boy is turning three next month.

男おとこの子こN5sense 1
男の子 is the neutral, everyday word for 'boy', while 坊や adds an affectionate or familiar tone, often used by adults speaking to or about a young child.
若わか造ぞう sense 2
若造 is a blunt, contemptuous word for an inexperienced young man, close to the derogatory sense of 坊や as 'mere boy' or 'greenhorn'.
息子むすこN4sense 1
息子 is the plain, standard word for 'son', whereas 坊や is a more intimate, cute way to refer to a young son.
坊ぼう
坊や is the standard affectionate term used to address a little boy, while 坊 by itself is less commonly used alone as a direct address.

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坊ぼうさんN2
坊や is the more common affectionate term for a young boy, while 坊さん in this sense sounds old-fashioned or teasing.
坊ぼっちゃんN2
坊や is a plain, affectionate term for a little boy without any implication of wealth, while 坊ちゃん specifically suggests a boy from a well-off family.
坊ぼう主ずN1
坊や is an affectionate way to address a little boy, in contrast to 坊主, which can sound rough or dismissive when used for a boy.

坊ぼっちゃんpolite 丁寧語sense 1
坊っちゃん is the more polite, deferential term used when referring to someone else's young son, while 坊や is casual and affectionate, often for one's own child or a child being addressed directly.

人にん
The everyday counter for people: 一人 (ひとり), 二人 (ふたり), 三人 (さんにん).
名めいN2
More formal than 人 — used for headcounts in reservations, staff lists, and announcements (5名様).

坊ぼうやUsage80%
Standard kanji spelling; the reading ぼうや is the only reading given.
ぼうやUsage19%
ボウヤUsage1%

Derived from 坊 (ぼう, 'boy' or 'monk's apprentice') with the diminutive suffix や, creating an affectionate term for a young boy.