Kanji 児 newborn babe, child, young of animals Related words 幼稚園児 specifically means a child attending a kindergarten (幼稚園 ), while 園児 is the broader term covering kindergarten, nursery school, or daycare children.
保育園児 specifically means a child at a nursery school or daycare center (保育園 ), while 園児 covers both kindergarten and nursery-school children.
幼児 is a general age-based term for a young child (roughly 1–6 years old) regardless of whether they attend any facility, while 園児 specifically refers to a child enrolled in a kindergarten or nursery school.
Counted with The everyday counter for people: 一人 (ひとり ), 二人 (ふたり ), 三人 (さんにん ).
More formal than 人 — used for headcounts in reservations, staff lists, and announcements (5名様 ).
Word family kindergartener; preschooler
child not enrolled in kindergarten or nursery school
short-hour child (aged 3-5, at a certified early childhood center)
full-day preschooler (aged 3-5); child requiring childcare at a certified center
full-day child (aged 0-2, at a certified early childhood center)
nursery school child; preschooler (in daycare)
Etymology Compound of 園 (garden, park, here referring to a kindergarten or nursery school) and 児 (child). The reading is on'yomi for both characters.
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