also: わかいしゅう
A somewhat old-fashioned or regional term for a young man, often used in traditional or rural contexts. Can carry a nuance of a junior member of a group.
The young men of the village helped prepare for the festival.
That young lad works hard, doesn't he?
servant boy; young shopboy; apprentice
Historical or traditional term for a young male servant or apprentice in a shop, inn, or similar establishment. Not used in modern standard Japanese for regular employees.
In merchant houses of the Edo period, young servant boys worked as apprentices.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading わかいしゅ is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common and may be considered old-fashioned or dialectal.
Compound of 若い (wakai, 'young') and 衆 (shū, 'group of people'). The reading わかいしゅう is an older or dialectal variant.