若い

• Reading: わかい
• Romaji: wakai
• Kanji breakdown: 若 (waka/jaku) — young, youthful
• Pronunciation: /wa.ka.i/

Meaning

Young; youthful. Describes a person or living thing that is not old.

An i-adjective used primarily for people and living things to describe youth. Unlike 新しい (new for objects), 若い is specifically for age. Often used in the phrase 若い時 (when I was young) and 若い人 (young people). Conjugates regularly: 若くない, 若かった, 若くなかった.

Examples

1. あの先生はとても若いです。 That teacher is very young.
2. 母は若い時、テニスをしていました。 My mother used to play tennis when she was young.
3. 若い人がたくさん来ました。 A lot of young people came.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, descriptions, age

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 若 originally depicted a person picking herbs, associated with the fresh vitality of youth.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal