Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

坊や (ぼうや) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

坊ぼうや

ぼ

う

や

JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

boy; son; child

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.

うち

の

坊ぼう

や

は

今年ことし

で

5

歳さい

に

なり

ます

。

Our little boy will be five this year.

おばあさんは近きん所じょの坊ぼうやたちに優やさしく話はなしかけた。

The old lady spoke kindly to the neighborhood boys.

2

mere boy; stripling; greenhorn

derogatory

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

そんな坊ぼうやにこの仕し事ごとは任まかせられない。
I can't entrust this job to a mere boy like that.

Usage patterns

〈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.

Kanji

坊boy, priest's residence, priest

Related words· 7

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.

Show 3 more

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.

Politeness

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.

Counted with

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).

Written forms

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%

Etymology

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