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青年 (せいねん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N3 Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Meanings 1
noun
youth ; young man
Refers to a young person, typically male, in their teens to early twenties. Often used in formal or literary contexts, but also common in everyday language.
出で
は
かけがえ
の
ない
もの
だ
。
Memories of one's youth are irreplaceable.
Similar words 若わか 者もの 若者 is a more general and casual term for young people, while 青年 often carries a slightly more formal or literary tone and can emphasize the transitional period of youth.
少しょう 年ねん 少年 refers specifically to a boy, usually younger than a 青年, typically up to the early teens.
Etymology Compound of 青 (sei, 'blue/green; youthful') and 年 (nen, 'year; age'). The character 青 is associated with youth and immaturity, as in the phrase 青二才 (aonisai, 'greenhorn').
