How to say "punk" in Japanese

• チンピラCommon
  nounThe everyday derogatory word for the 'punk' sense of a young street hoodlum or delinquent, applicable to girls as well as boys; think of a small-time delinquent causing trouble around town.
  その若者わかものが女の子おんなのこをちんぴらの連中れんちゅうから救すくった。↗

  The young man saved the girl from a bunch of hoodlums.
• パンク
  nounThe loanword covering the music and fashion sense of 'punk'. It refers to the subculture, not to a delinquent, so for punk music, fashion or style this is the word you want.
• ごろつき
  nounA rogue, thug or hoodlum: its 'punk' is the no-good loafer or street-tough sense. It usually appears in kana alone and, unlike チンピラ, carries no suggestion that the person is young.
• せがれJLPT N1approx.
  nounIts 'punk' is the brat sense: a scornful way to refer to a young man, especially someone's son; usually written in kana. It is not the word for a hoodlum or street thug.
• 小倅こせがれ
  nounA more openly contemptuous variant of せがれ: 'punk; brat' with the added force of 'bastard'. A strong insult aimed at a young man, and a less common word at that.

Use 「パンク」 for the music-and-fashion subculture; 「チンピラ」 for a young delinquent or hoodlum; 「ごろつき」 for a no-good street tough; and 「せがれ」 or 小倅 for contemptuous name-calling aimed at a brat of a young man.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ちんぴら(young) hoodlum
• パンクpunk (music, fashion)
• ごろつきrogue
• せがれpunk
• 小倅こせがれpunk
• 突っ張りつっぱり(juvenile) delinquency