noun
boyhood; adolescence (male)
Refers to the period of being a boy, roughly from late childhood through adolescence. Often used in developmental or psychological contexts.
少年期は人格形成に重要な時期だ。
Boyhood is an important period for personality development.
彼は少年期を田舎で過ごした。
He spent his boyhood in the countryside.
Refers to adolescence or young adulthood, a later stage than 少年期.
Compound of 少年 (boy, juvenile) and 期 (period, stage).