Japanese Conversation · Level 30
90 words
Japanese word
ヤンキー
Pronunciation
Romajiyankī
Meaning
- nounjuvenile delinquent
Example
公園でヤンキーが大声で話しています。kō en de ya n kī ga ō goe de hana shi te i ma su
A juvenile delinquent is talking loudly in the park.
More examples
昔はヤンキーだった父が、今では教師をしています。mukashi wa ya n kī da tta chichi ga ima de wa kyō shi o shi te i ma su
My father, who was a juvenile delinquent, is now a teacher.
Core concept
In Japanese, ヤンキー (yankī) denotes either an American or a defiant youth involved in delinquent behavior, and the intended sense depends on context.
Common phrases
元ヤンキーmoto ya n kī
former juvenile delinquent
ヤンキー高校生ya n kī kō kō sei
delinquent high school student
ヤンキー座りya n kī suwa ri
a delinquent-style squat
Similar words
不良furyō: A young person viewed as delinquent because of rebellious conduct and poor behavior.
ツッパリtsuppari: A youth who deliberately acts defiantly and rejects accepted rules or manners.
非行少年hikōshōnen: A young person whose conduct departs from social rules or legal standards.
Definition in Japanese
社会の決まりを軽視し、非行に走る若者。sha kai no ki ma ri o kei shi shi hi kō ni hashi ru waka mono
Word origin
ヤンキー (yankī) is borrowed from English Yankee, a word first used for people from New England and later used for Americans; Japanese added the colloquial meaning of a delinquent youth.
Usage tips
- In Japanese pop culture, ヤンキー (yankī) often describes a rebellious youth with a distinctive style, not simply a person from the United States.
Other meanings
- Americannoun