園児(えんじ)

えんじ
noun
kindergarten child; nursery school child
personeducation
1. kindergarten child; nursery school child
A child enrolled in a kindergarten or nursery school. Used in both casual and official contexts to refer to young children in pre-elementary education.
園児(えんじ)たちが遊(あそ)んでいる。
The kindergarten children are playing.
園児(えんじ)の送(おく)り迎(むか)えは毎日(まいにち)大変(たいへん)だ。
Dropping off and picking up the kindergartener every day is tough.
この幼稚園(ようちえん)では園児(えんじ)が自分(じぶん)で弁当(べんとう)を用意(ようい)する日(ひ)がある。
At this kindergarten, there are days when the children prepare their own lunch boxes.

Usage

Refers specifically to children enrolled in a 幼稚園(ようちえん) (kindergarten) or 保育園(ほいくえん) (nursery school). Not used for children who simply happen to be young — the word implies enrollment in a pre-school institution.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 幼児(ようじ): young child — broader term for any small child, regardless of school enrollment
  • 児童(じどう): school child — refers to elementary school-age children

Related Words

Compare: 幼児(ようじ) (young child (general))
Compare: 児童(じどう) (elementary school child)
general
Added 2026.3.20 17:53 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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