少年

• Reading: しょうねん
• Romaji: shounen
• Kanji breakdown: 少 (shou) — few, little, young; 年 (nen) — year, age
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.neɴ/

Meaning

Boy; youth; juvenile. A young male, typically between childhood and adolescence.

A noun referring to boys or male youths roughly between ages 7 and 17. Common in legal contexts (少年法 = juvenile law), manga genres (少年漫画 = shounen manga), and literature. More formal and literary than 男の子. Can also be used collectively to mean 'young people' in some legal contexts regardless of gender.

Examples

1. あの少年はサッカーがとても上手だ。 That boy is really good at soccer.
2. 少年時代の思い出を大切にしている。 I treasure the memories from my boyhood.
3. 少年漫画の人気が世界中で高まっている。 The popularity of shounen manga is growing worldwide.

Usage Guide

Context: manga, literature, legal

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 少 (few, little, young) and 年 (year, age). The literal meaning is 'few years,' indicating someone of young age.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal