幼
KANJI DETAIL
young
On readingよう5 strokesN2
Radical 幺 · short threadStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 幼.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- よう
- Kun reading
- おさない
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
幼conveys being young; its kun-reading isおさないand its on-reading isよう. - Basic usage:
幼い(おさない)means young, while幼稚(ようち)means childish or immature.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Young age and immature behavior
幼い子どもmeans a young child, while幼いころmeans when one was young. These expressions refer to actual age or childhood.幼稚だmeans childish. In the examples about mocking another person's failure and giving an unconvincing excuse, it evaluates immature behavior or thinking.