How to say "teenager" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

子こJLPT N4approx.Common
noun, noun (suffix)Primarily means 'child' or 'kid'; 'teenager' is only a loose gloss. It is generally not the word you want for someone specifically in their teens—use it for children in general instead.
その子こは母親ははおやに甘あまえた。↗
The child played the baby to his mother.
ティーンエイジャーCommon
nounThe direct word for 'teenager': a person aged roughly thirteen to nineteen. Use this when the fact of being a teenager is the point, as in discussions of teenage fashions, behavior, or problems.
その雑誌ざっしはティーンエイジャー向むけに作つくられたものだ。↗
The magazine is aimed at teenagers.

Use 「ティーンエイジャー」 for a person in their teens; 子 is really 'child' and only loosely covers a teenager, so it is not the precise word for that age group.

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

Japanese equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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