青年

• Reading: せいねん
• Romaji: seinen
• Kanji breakdown: 青 (sei) — blue, green, youth; 年 (nen) — year, age
• Pronunciation: /se.i.ne.n/

Meaning

Youth; young man; young adult. Refers to a person in their late teens to twenties.

A noun describing a young person, typically male, in the prime of youth. More literary and formal than 若者 (young person). Used in compound words like 青年団 (youth group) and 青年期 (adolescence/young adulthood). Despite containing 年 (year), the focus is on the stage of life rather than age.

Examples

1. 青年たちがボランティア活動に参加した。 The young people participated in volunteer activities.
2. 彼は礼儀正しい青年だった。 He was a well-mannered young man.
3. 青年期は人生で最も大切な時期だ。 Youth is the most important time in life.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, society, formal writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 青 (blue/green, representing youth and freshness) and 年 (year, age). The colour blue/green symbolises the vigour and inexperience of youth in East Asian culture.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal