Japanese dictionary
How to say "boy" in Japanese
男の子おとこのこ · otoko no ko
"Boy" in Japanese is 男の子 (otoko no ko), literally "male child." In writing and news, 少年 (shōnen) is also used.
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Ways to say "boy" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 男の子おとこのこ · otoko no ko | Boy. Everyday word. |
| 少年しょうねん · shōnen | Boy; youth. Formal or written. |
| 男子だんし · danshi | Boy; male (at school or in sports). |
How to use it
At school, boys are often called 男子 (danshi), and a boys' team is 男子チーム.
The opposite is 女の子 (onna no ko, girl).
Example sentences
- 公園で男の子たちがサッカーをしています。Kōen de otoko no kotachi ga sakkā o shite imasu.Boys are playing soccer in the park.
- 友だちに男の子が生まれました。Tomodachi ni otoko no ko ga umaremashita.My friend had a baby boy.
- 息子は小学三年生の男の子です。Musuko wa shōgaku sannensei no otoko no ko desu.My son is a third-grade boy.
- このクラスは男子が十五人です。Kono kurasu wa danshi ga jūgonin desu.This class has fifteen boys.
- 少年サッカーのコーチをしています。Shōnen sakkā no kōchi o shite imasu.I coach youth soccer.
- あの男の子はだれですか。Ano otoko no ko wa dare desu ka.Who is that boy?
Kanji in this word
Questions
How do you say "boys' school" in Japanese?
A boys' school is 男子校 (danshikō).
What is 少年 used for?
少年 (shōnen) is formal or written, as in news. It also appears in manga categories, such as 少年マンガ (manga for boys).
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.