幼 means “very young, childhood”

おさない · osanai

Also: infancy

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

おさない

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ヨウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 6 · 5 strokes

The story

Tiny (幺) and strength (力): not much strength yet, a very young child. 幼い is very young, 幼稚園 is kindergarten, and your 幼なじみ is the friend you have known since you were both small.

Used in 幼い (osanai, very young), 幼稚園 (youchien, kindergarten), and 幼なじみ (osananajimi, childhood friend)

More from Names & Introductions

• 姓 surname
• 介 mediate
• 児 child
• 齢 age
• 籍 register
• 仲 relationship
• 紹 introduce
• 童 child

Learn 幼 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.