Japanese word

年長

Pronunciation

Romajinenchō

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveolder

Example

年長の子は年少の子を手伝います。nen chō no ko wa nen shō no ko o te tsuda i ma su

The older children help the younger children.

Illustration for 年長 (older)

More examples

兄は私より三歳年長です。ani wa watashi yo ri san sai nen chō de su

My brother is three years older than I am.

Core concept

Presents a person as older than others in the relevant group, with age order rather than ability as the focus.

Common phrases

  • 年長の子nen chō no ko

    older child

  • 年長の生徒nen chō no sei to

    older student

  • 年長のきょうだいnen chō no kyō da i

    older sibling

Similar words

年上toshiue: Describes a person who is older in age than another person.

Definition in Japanese

同じ集団の中で、年齢が上であるさま。ona ji shū dan no naka de nen rei ga ue de a ru sa ma

Word origin

As a Sino-Japanese compound, 年長 (nenchō) combines 年 (nen, "year") and 長 (chō, "long; senior"), giving the sense of being senior in age.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese childcare and school settings, 年長 (nenchō) often labels the oldest class in a group, so it can describe a group as well as an individual.

Other meanings

  • seniorna-adjective

Opposites

  • 年少nenshōyoungerna-adjective

Related words

  • 年長者nenchōshaolder personnoun

Word lists with this word