少年

• Pinyin: shào nián
• Hanzi breakdown: 少 = 小 (small) with a stroke removed, here meaning 'young'; 年 = originally a pictograph of a person carrying grain, meaning 'year'

Meaning

Teenager; youth. Refers to a young person roughly between the ages of ten and seventeen.

Used in both modern and literary Chinese to refer to adolescents. It carries a slightly more literary or elevated tone than casual words like 年轻人. Common in titles of TV shows, books, and songs. Can refer to both boys and girls, though it often leans towards boys in colloquial usage.

Examples

1. 他是一个聪明的少年。 He is a smart teenager.
2. 少年时候的朋友我现在还联系。 I still keep in touch with friends from my youth.
3. 公园里有几个少年在踢足球。 There are a few teenagers playing football in the park.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, everyday, media

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这个少年很有礼貌。(This young man is very polite.)
• 我少年时候喜欢看漫画。(I liked reading comics when I was young.)

Don't Say

• 不要用少年来称呼小孩子 (Don't use 少年 for small children — it refers to ages roughly 10-17; use 小孩 or 儿童 for younger children)

Origin & History

少 (shào, young) + 年 (nián, year/age). Literally 'of young years,' referring to someone in the early stage of life.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal