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神童 (しんどう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
child prodigy ; infant genius ; wunderkind
Refers to a child with exceptional talent or intelligence, often in music, mathematics, or other fields. Can be used literally or with a touch of admiration.
の
神しん
童どう
は
10
歳さい
で
大だい
学がく
に
入にゅう
学がく
し
た
。
The math prodigy entered university at age 10.
Similar words 天てん 才さい 天才 is a broader term for 'genius' and can apply to any age, while 神童 specifically refers to a child prodigy.
秀しゅう 才さい 秀才 implies a person of great academic ability or diligence, often without the innate, almost miraculous connotation of 神童.
Etymology Composed of 神 (divine, god) and 童 (child), literally 'divine child'. The term has been used in Japanese for centuries to describe exceptionally gifted children, akin to the Western concept of a prodigy or wunderkind.