若 造(わかぞう)

わかぞう

noun

youngster; greenhorn; young whippersnapper

1. youngster; greenhorn; stripling

A derogatory or dismissive term for a young, inexperienced person. Implies the person is immature, naive, or not yet worthy of respect. Typically used by older people referring to younger men.

若造(わかぞう)のくせに生意気(なまいき)だ。

He's just a greenhorn, yet so cocky.

あんな若造(わかぞう)に何(なに)がわかる。

What would a youngster like that know?

若造(わかぞう)と馬鹿(ばか)にされたが、結果(けっか)を出(だ)して見返(みかえ)してやった。

I was dismissed as a mere youngster, but I proved myself with results.

若造(わかぞう) is a derogatory term and is almost always used critically or dismissively. It is primarily directed at young men. The suffix 造(ぞう) (also seen in 野郎(やろう)→やつ patterns) adds a rough, disdainful nuance.

Common collocations

若造(わかぞう)のくせに — even though (he's) just a youngster
若造(わかぞう)と馬鹿(ばか)にする — to look down on as a greenhorn
ただの若造(わかぞう) — just a young punk

Related words

青二才(あおにさい) — greenhorn, novice
小僧(こぞう) — kid, brat
若者(わかもの) — young person (neutral)

Related Words

Compare: 若者(わかもの) (young person (neutral))

Related: 青二才(あおにさい) (greenhorn, novice)

Related: 小僧(こぞう) (kid, brat)

general

Added 2026.3.22 11:33 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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