Japanese word

男子

Pronunciation

Romajidanshi

Meaning

  • nounboy

Example

男子が三人います。dan shi ga san nin i ma su

There are three boys.

Illustration for 男子 (boy)

More examples

その店には男子向けの服もあります。so no mise ni wa dan shi mu ke no fuku mo a ri ma su

There are also clothes for boys at that store.

Core concept

It marks someone as belonging to the male group, covering both boys and men depending on the situation.

Common phrases

  • 男子二人dan shi futa ri

    two boys

  • 男子学生dan shi gaku sei

    male student

Similar words

男の子otokonoko: A familiar term for a male child.

Definition in Japanese

男の子または男性である者。otoko no ko ma ta wa dan sei de a ru mono

Word origin

男子 (danshi) comes from the Sino-Japanese elements 男 (dan, "male") and 子 (shi, "child"), whose combination denotes a male person.

Usage tips

  • 男子 (danshi) is common in labels and compounds such as 男子トイレ (danshi toire), where it refers to males generally rather than only to children.

Other meanings

  • malenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word