1.
younger; junior (in age)
Being younger than someone else; a person who is younger.
彼女は私より二歳年下だ。
She is two years younger than me.
年下の同僚に教えてもらった。
I was taught by a younger colleague.
夫は五歳年下です。
My husband is five years younger than me.
WORD FORMATION:
年 (age, year) + 下 (below) → below in years = younger
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 〜より年下 - younger than ~
- 年下の人 - younger person
- 五歳年下 - five years younger
USAGE:
Describes age relationships between people. In Japanese society, age differences often affect how people interact and what language they use with each other.
CULTURAL NOTE:
Dating or marrying someone 年下 used to be less common, especially for women with younger men, but has become more accepted in modern Japan.
Related Words
Antonym:
年上 (older)