幼児（ようじ、youji）
- infant/toddler

The Japanese word 幼児, pronounced ようじ (yōji), refers to a young child, specifically a toddler or preschooler. ⚫︎ It generally encompasses children from about one year old up to the age when they begin elementary school (around six or seven years old). ⚫︎ The term emphasizes the early developmental stage of life, highlighting the child's dependence on caregivers and their ongoing learning and growth. ⚫︎ The focus is often on this age group's physical, cognitive, and social development.

⚫︎ 幼児教育 (yōji kyōiku) Translation: Early childhood education ⚫︎ 幼児向けの絵本 (yōji muke no ehon) Translation: Picture books for toddlers ⚫︎ 彼は 幼児の世話をするのが得意です。(Kare wa yōji no sewa o suru no ga tokui desu.) Translation: He is good at taking care of young children.

⚫︎ This word is frequently used in contexts related to child care, education, and development. ⚫︎ It's suitable for discussing young children in general, specific activities, products designed for them, or services provided for this age group. ⚫︎ You can use 幼児 when referring to children in a nursery, daycare, or preschool environment. ⚫︎ It is appropriate in formal and informal situations. ⚫︎ Avoid using 幼児 to describe an older child or a teenager.

⚫︎ The standard way to write 幼児 is using the kanji 幼児. ⚫︎ The reading is always ようじ (yōji) ⚫︎ The word is rarely written in hiragana or katakana, though it's perfectly acceptable to write it in hiragana if you are unsure of the kanji. ⚫︎ There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎ 子供(kodomo): Child (general term for child) ⚫︎ 乳幼児(nyūyōji): Infant and young child (including babies) ⚫︎ 幼い子供(osananai kodomo): Young child

⚫︎ 大人(otona): Adult ⚫︎ 高齢者(kōreisha): Elderly person

この公園には、たくさんの幼児が遊びに来ています。(Kono kōen ni wa, takusan no 幼児 ga asobi ni kiteimasu.) ・Translation: Many young children are coming to play at this park. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the presence of many 幼児 at a specific place.

幼児向けの番組は、子供たちの成長に役立ちます。(Yōji muke no bangumi wa, kodomo-tachi no seichō ni yakudachimasu.) ・Translation: Programs for young children are helpful for their growth. ・Explanation: This sentence explains how programs designed for 幼児 contribute to their development.

The word 幼児 is composed of two kanji: 幼 (yō), meaning "young" or "childish," and 児 (ji), meaning "child." Together, they combine to accurately represent the meaning of a young child.