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幼稚園児 (youchienji) Japanese meaning: kindergartener | Kotomora

幼よう稚ち園えん児じ

よ

う

ち

え

ん

じ

Meanings

1

kindergartener; preschooler

Refers to a child who goes to kindergarten (幼稚園), typically ages 3–6 in Japan.

幼よう稚ち園えん児じたちが公こう園えんで遊あそんで

いる

。

The kindergarteners are playing in the park.

うちの子こは来らい年ねん幼よう稚ち園えん児じになる。

My child will become a kindergartener next year.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉は幼よう稚ち園えん児じ向むけsomething is aimed at/suitable for kindergarteners
このテレビ番ばん組ぐみは幼よう稚ち園えん児じ向むけに作つくられている。
This TV program is made for kindergarteners.
幼よう稚ち園えん児じのような〈事こと〉behaving like a kindergartener (childish)
彼かれは幼よう稚ち園えん児じのような態たい度どで騒さわいでいた。
He was fussing around with the attitude of a kindergartener.

Kanji

幼infancy, childhood
稚immature, young
園park, garden, yard
児newborn babe, child, young of animals

Related words

園えん児じN2
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.

Don't confuse with

保ほ育いく園えん児じ
幼稚園児 attends 幼稚園 (kindergarten, focused on early education), while 保育園児 attends 保育園 (nursery/daycare, often for working parents' children).
小しょう学がく生せいN2
幼稚園児 refers to a preschool-age child (roughly 3–6), whereas 小学生 refers to an elementary school student (roughly 6–12), so learners should not use them interchangeably for age.

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).

Built from

幼よう稚ち+園えん児じ

Etymology

Compound of 幼稚園 (kindergarten) + 児 (child).