ヤンキー
Meanings
1
delinquent youth; yankii
Colloquial term for a Japanese juvenile delinquent or young person associated with a rebellious subculture, often characterized by specific fashion, hairstyles, and behavior. Not to be confused with the American sense.
Those yankii kids hang around the park at night.
Apparently he was a delinquent in high school.
2
Yankee; American
Colloquial term for an American person, derived from 'Yankee'. Less common in modern Japanese than アメリカ人, and may carry a slightly old-fashioned or casual tone.
After the war, many Americans were stationed in Japan.
That American speaks Japanese well, doesn't he?
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉がヤンキーになるfor someone to become a delinquent (adopt the ヤンキー style/lifestyle)
He became a delinquent back in junior high.
- ヤンキーっぽい〈物〉something that has a stereotypical delinquent look or style
That car has kind of a delinquent-style design.