思春期（ししゅんき、shishunki）
- adolescence

The Japanese word 思春期 （ししゅんき） refers to "puberty" or "adolescence." It's the period of life when a child transitions into adulthood, characterized by significant physical, psychological, and social changes. It's a time of rapid growth, hormonal shifts, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics. 思春期 also encompasses the emotional and mental changes that occur during this time, including the search for identity, increased independence, and the development of more complex relationships.

⚫︎思春期の子供たちは、自分の外見に敏感になります。 Translation: Children in adolescence become sensitive about their appearance. ⚫︎思春期の悩みについて両親と話すのが難しいと感じる人もいます。 Translation: Some people find it difficult to talk to their parents about their adolescent troubles. ⚫︎思春期には、心身ともに様々な変化が起こります。 Translation: During adolescence, various changes occur both physically and mentally.

You use 思春期 when talking about the stage of life between childhood and adulthood. It’s suitable for discussions about the physical and emotional development, social changes, and challenges experienced during these years. It's used in both formal and informal contexts.

思春期 is typically written using kanji and hiragana. ・ Kanji: 思春期 ・ Reading (hiragana): ししゅんき There are no other ways to write it, and the okurigana is fixed.

There are no direct synonyms for 思春期 in Japanese, because it is a very specific term. However, terms that relate to this period could be considered: ・ 青年期 (せいねんき) - Youth period. ・ 成長期 (せいちょうき) - Growth period.

・ 幼少期 (ようしょうき) - Early childhood. ・ 子供時代 (こどもじだい) - Childhood. ・ 老年期 (ろうねんき) - Old age.

私の息子は今、思春期です。》 ・Translation: My son is in adolescence now. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the speaker's son's current life stage.

思春期の時期は、心と体のバランスを保つことが大切です。》 ・Translation: It's important to maintain a balance of mind and body during adolescence. ・Explanation: This sentence emphasizes the importance of mental and physical well-being during the adolescent period.

The word 思春期 is a compound word composed of two kanji. ・ 思 (し) - thought, idea, to think ・ 春 (しゅん) - spring (referring to the spring of life) ・ 期 (き) - period, time Together, they metaphorically represent the "spring" or the blossoming period of thought and development in a person's life, implying a time of new beginnings and growth.