“shounen” vs. “nenshou”：Most Learners Don’t Know the Difference

2021年10月5日2022年1月23日

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“shounen” vs. “nenshou”：Most Learners Don’t Know the Difference

What is the difference between “少年しょうねん(shounen) and 年少ねんしょう(nenshou)”? Which is used as the meaning of “boy”? After reading this, you would be answering this question. Let me introduce what their subtle differences are and how you correctly use them such as native speakers today!

少年しょうねん (shounen)

Boy (less than 18) / 少年 / 소년 / Thiếu niên (chỉ dùng cho bé trai)

“少年しょうねん (shounen)” means “Boy” and which has been used as the meaning of “a male child, from birth to full growth, especially one less than 18 years of age.”. The basic ways to use them are that “___は少年しょうねんだ。(___ is a boy)”, etc For instance, “彼かれは少年しょうねんだ。(He is a boy.)”, “弟おとうとはまだ少年しょうねんだ。(My brother is still a boy.)”, etc. The tips for using it are that “少年しょうねん” is used as the meaning of “A BOY LESS THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE” such as 4, 5 10, 15, etc, unlike “年少ねんしょう“. Everyone could use “少年しょうねん” as casual, polite and formal such as “彼かれは少年しょうねんだね。(He is a boy.)” as casual and 彼かれは少年しょうねんです。(He is a boy.)” as polite and formal.

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Sample

yuka

弟おとうとはまだ少年しょうねんなの。 (My brother is still a boy.) (我弟弟还是个少年。) (남동생은 아직 어려.) (Em trai tôi vẫn còn là thiếu niên.)

tatsuya

泳およいでいる少年しょうねんは僕ぼくの弟おとうとです。 (The swimming boy is my brother.) (在游泳的少年是我弟弟。) (수영하고 있는 소년은 제 남동생입니다.) (Cậu bé đang bơi là em trai của tôi.)

yuka

シュンは礼儀正れいぎただしい少年しょうねんです。 (Shun is a polite boy.) (顺是一个有礼貌的男孩。) (슌은 예의가 바른 소년입니다.) (Shun là một thiếu niên lễ phép.)

tatsuya

少年しょうねんのころ、よくこの浜辺はまべに来きたよ。 (I used to come to this beach when I was a boy.) (我小时候经常来这个海滩。) (어렸을 때, 이 해변에 자주 왔었어.) (Khi còn là thiếu niên, tôi thường hay đến bãi biển này.)

年少ねんしょう (nenshou)

Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K4) / 年幼 / 어린이 / Trẻ em

“年少ねんしょう (nenshou)” means “Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K4)” and which has been used as the meaning of “Kindergartener(4 years old)”. The basic ways to use them are that “___は年少ねんしょうだ。(___ is a kindergartner)”, etc For instance, “彼かれは年少ねんしょうだ。(He is a kindergartner.)”, “弟おとうとはま年少ねんしょうだ。(My brother is still a kindergartner.)”, etc. The tips for using it are that “年少ねんしょう” is used as the meaning of “A KINDERGARTNER ESPECIALLY Pre-K4”, unlike “少年しょうねん“. For your information, “年少ねんしょう” is “4 years old”, “年中ねんちゅう” is “5 years old” and “年長ねんちょう” are “6 years old” who are “kindergarten students” and from “7 years old” who become “elementary school students/primary school students”. Everyone could use “年少ねんしょう” as casual, polite and formal such as “彼かれは年少ねんしょうだよ。(He is a kindergartner.)” as casual and “彼かれは年少ねんしょうです。(He is a kindergartner.)” as polite and formal.

Sample

yuka

弟おとうとはまだ年少ねんしょうなの。 (My brother is still a kindergartner(Pre-K4).) (我弟弟还年幼。) (남동생은 아직 어려.) (Em trai tôi vẫn còn là một đứa trẻ con.)

tatsuya

来年ねんしょうから弟おとうとは年少ねんしょうです。 (From next year my brother will be a kindergartner(Pre-K4).) (明年开始我弟弟就要上小班了。) (내년부터 남동생은 어린이가 됩니다.) (Từ năm sau em trai tôi sẽ đến tuổi đi mẫu giáo.)

yuka

年少ねんしょうなのに、シュンは礼儀正れいぎただしいです。 (Even Shun is a kindergartner(Pre-K4), he is polite.) (虽然他年幼，但是顺很有礼貌。) (어린이인데 슌은 예의가 바릅니다.) (Dù vẫn còn bé, vậy mà Shun vẫn rất lễ phép.)

tatsuya

年少ねんしょうのころ、よくこの浜辺はまべに来きたよ。 (I used to come to this beach when I was a kindergartner(Pre-K4).) (在我很小的时候，我经常来到这个海滩。) (어렸을 때, 이 해변에 자주 왔었어.) (Khi tôi còn bé, tôi thường hay đến bãi biển này.)

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