幼よう稚ち

noun

infancy; very young age

Rare as a standalone modern noun for the period of infancy or early childhood; modern Japanese more often uses words such as 幼少期 or 幼いころ.

• 古ふるい文ぶん章しょうでは、「幼よう稚ち」が幼おさない年としごろを表あらわす名めい詞しとして出でることがある。

  In older writing, 幼稚 can appear as a noun meaning a very young age.

na-adjective, noun

childish; immature; infantile

Common evaluative na-adjective for behavior, ideas, excuses, or arguments that seem childishly undeveloped; often critical.

• そんな幼よう稚ちな言いい訳わけは通つう用ようしない。

  Such a childish excuse will not work.

• 彼かれの反はん論ろんは感かん情じょう的てきで、少すこし幼よう稚ちに聞きこえた。

  His objection was emotional and sounded a little immature.

na-adjective, noun

rudimentary; underdeveloped; primitive

Used for a method, theory, technology, or field that is still at an undeveloped or early stage; this is less about literal children and more about lack of sophistication.

• 当とう時じの技ぎ術じゅつはまだ幼よう稚ちな段だん階かいにあった。

  The technology at the time was still at a rudimentary stage.