年長|ねんちょうnenchou[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjective, na-adjectivesenior; older
   年長ねんちょうの息子むすこたちは今いまは父親ちちおやからまったく独立どくりつしている。↗

   The elder sons are now quite independent of their father.
2. nounthird-year kindergarten student

• Synonym年上としうえNeutralBeing older than someone; common in speech, as in 「三つ年上」. 「年長」 leans toward written use.
• SynonymシニアNeutralLoanword for the elderly and seniors, as in 「シニア世代」; 「年長」 is the more general word.
• Synonym目上めうえNeutralPeople of higher status or seniority, such as elders; 「年長」 stresses age itself.
• Synonym年嵩としかさWrittenWritten/formal word for being older in age; 「年長」 is more common.
• Related上うえNeutralCovers 'above' and superiors generally, with a very wide range; 「年長」 is specific to age.
• Related先輩せんぱいNeutralA senior at school or work, stressing experience and standing; 「年長」 stresses age.
• Related長上ちょうじょうWrittenWritten/formal word for one's elders and superiors, leaning honorific; 「年長」 simply stresses being older in age.
• Related上長じょうちょうWrittenWritten/formal term for one's superior in position; 「年長」 stresses being older in age, not rank.
• Related年長者ねんちょうしゃNeutralRefers to an older person, as in 「年長者を敬う」; 「年長」 also describes age and the top kindergarten class.
• Antonym年少ねんしょうNeutralThe antonym on the age scale: being younger; it also names the youngest kindergarten class, opposite 「年長」.

Use 「年長」 for being older than others and for the oldest kindergarten class. In everyday speech say 「年上」; for an older person use 「年長者」, for seniority 「先輩」, for higher status 「目上」. The antonym is 「年少」.

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

1. 年齢ねんれいが上うえであること。
2. 幼稚園ようちえん・保育園ほいくえんなどでの区別くべつ。もっとも上うえの学年がくねん。またその園児えんじ。