幼 稚(ようち)

ようち

na-adjective, noun

childish, infantile, immature

1. childish, infantile, immature

Characteristic of or appropriate for a young child; lacking sophistication or maturity.

そんな幼稚(ようち)な言(い)い訳(わけ)は通(とお)らない。

Such a childish excuse won't work.

彼(かれ)の考(かんが)え方(かた)は幼稚(ようち)だ。

His way of thinking is immature.

あんな幼稚(ようち)な質問(しつもん)をするなんて恥(は)ずかしい。

It's embarrassing to ask such a childish question.

2. early childhood, infancy

Relating to the stage of early childhood development (neutral usage).

子供(こども)は幼稚(ようち)園(えん)で遊(あそ)んでいる。

The children are playing at kindergarten.

幼稚(ようち)園(えん) = kindergarten

幼稚(ようち)園(えん)の入園(にゅうえん)申(もう)し込(こ)みが始(はじ)まった。

Applications for kindergarten enrollment have started.

息子(むすこ)は来年(らいねん)から幼稚(ようち)園(えん)に通(かよ)う予定(よてい)だ。

My son is scheduled to start kindergarten next year.

USAGE: 幼稚(ようち) has two main contexts:
1. Negative: describing immature or childish behavior in adults (pejorative)
2. Neutral: relating to early childhood education

COMMON PATTERNS:

幼稚(ようち)な考(かんが)え (childish thinking)
幼稚(ようち)な行動(こうどう) (immature behavior)

COMPOUND:

幼稚(ようち)園(えん) (kindergarten) - very common word using neutral sense

RELATED:

子供(こども)っぽい - childish (more colloquial)
未熟(みじゅく) - immature, inexperienced
大人(おとな)げない - unbecoming of an adult

general

Added 2026.1.13 21:42 · Revised 2026.5.30 1:13

04000/04088_youchi