Meaning
少年 refers to young people, typically in the age range of roughly 10-17 years old. It encompasses the period between childhood and full adulthood, often translated as 'youth' or 'teenager'. The term carries a sense of vigor, potential, and the formative years of a person's life.
Usage
少年 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It can refer to a specific young person or youth in general. The term appears frequently in literature, news, education, and daily conversation. It's often used in phrases emphasizing the importance of young people to society's future, such as '少年强则国强' (if the youth are strong, the nation is strong).
Examples
- 01这个少年很有礼貌，经常帮助别人。, .This young person is very polite and often helps others.
- 02少年时期是学习的黄金时代。.Youth is the golden age for learning.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个少年
- 名三名少年
Common collocations
- 少年时代youth period, adolescence
- 少年宫children's palace (activity center)
- 青少年teenagers and youth
- 少年犯juvenile delinquent
Antonyms
Origin
The combination literally means 'few years' or 'young years', referring to someone who has lived only a small number of years. The character 少 means 'young' or 'few', while 年 means 'year' or 'age'.