1.
boy; little boy; sonny
An affectionate or familiar term for a young boy.
坊や、名前は何というの？
What's your name, little boy?
隣の坊やが大きくなった。
The boy next door has grown up.
Referring to a neighborhood child
かわいい坊やですね。
What a cute little boy.
うちの坊やは来年小学校に入る。
Our little boy starts elementary school next year.
坊やが迷子になって泣いていた。
The little boy got lost and was crying.
2.
young man (condescending)
Used condescendingly toward an inexperienced young man.
まだまだ坊やだな。
You're still just a kid (inexperienced).
世の中はそんなに甘くないぞ、坊や。
The world isn't that easy, kid.
お前はまだ坊やだから分からないだろう。
You're still just a kid, so you probably wouldn't understand.
坊やには早い話だ。
That's a topic too advanced for a kid like you.
いくつになっても、母にとっては坊やのままだ。
No matter how old he gets, he's still her little boy to his mother.
坊や comes from 坊 (Buddhist monk; boy) + や (affectionate suffix).
REGISTER:
This is a casual, affectionate term used by adults when addressing or referring to young boys. It can sound condescending when used toward older males.
RELATED WORDS:
- 坊ちゃん - more polite/formal term for a boy, also 'young master'
- 男の子 - neutral term for 'boy'
- 少年 - formal term for 'boy' or 'youth'
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- お坊ちゃん - young master; sheltered boy
- 赤ん坊 - baby (either gender)