How to Say Middle Schooler in Japanese

You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking to learn how to say “middle schooler” in Japanese! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the formal and informal ways to express this term, providing you with useful tips, examples, and even touching on regional variations when necessary. So, let’s dive right in!

Formal Ways to Say Middle Schooler

If you want to address a middle schooler formally in Japanese, you can use the term “chūgakusei” (中学生). This term combines the kanji characters “chū” (中), meaning “middle,” and “gakusei” (学生), meaning “student.” It’s the most common and widely understood term for a middle schooler in Japan.

For instance, you could say:

Example:
わたしのいもうとは、ちゅうがくせいです。
(Watashi no imōto wa, chūgakusei desu.)
(My sister is a middle schooler.)

However, if you’re referring to a specific year group within middle school, you can add a number between “chūgaku” (中学) and “sei” (生) to indicate the grade. For example, “ninen-sei” (二年生) means “second-year middle school student”.

Here’s an example:

Example:
わたしのおともだちは、にねんせいです。
(Watashi no otomodachi wa, ninen-sei desu.)
(My friend is a second-year middle school student.)

Informal Ways to Say Middle Schooler

When speaking informally, you can use the term “chūsei” (中生), which is a shortened form of “chūgakusei” (中学生). This term is commonly used among friends, family members, and peers.

For example:

Example:
あのこは、ちゅうせい？
(Ano ko wa, chūsei?)
(Is that person a middle schooler?)

Alternatively, you can use the term “chūsei” (中生) in combination with a specific grade, just like in the formal way. For example, “ninen-sei” (二年生) can also be expressed as “chuuni” (中二).

Here’s an example:

Example:
ぼくのともだちは、ちゅうにだ。
(Boku no tomodachi wa, chuuni da.)
(My friend is an eighth-grader.)

Regional Variations

While “chūgakusei” (中学生) and “chūsei” (中生) are used throughout Japan, some regional variations exist. In Kansai dialect, the term “chūgaksei” (中学生) is commonly used instead.

Here’s an example:

Example:
関西のことばでは、おんなじことば「中学生」を「中学王子」といいます。
(Kansai no kotoba de wa, onnaji kotoba “chūgakusei” o “chūgakuōji” to iimasu.)
(In the Kansai dialect, the term “chūgakusei” is often expressed as “chūgakuōji”.)

Tips for Usage

When using these terms to refer to middle schoolers in Japanese, keep the following tips in mind:

• Always consider the formality of the situation. “Chūgakusei” (中学生) is the safest option for formal settings, while “chūsei” (中生) is more suitable in informal conversations.
• If you’re unsure about the grade level, you can simply use “chūgakusei” or “chūsei” without specifying the year.
• Remember that “chūgakusei,” “chūsei,” and their variations are collective terms for students in grades 7 to 9.
• When referring to a specific grade, add the number followed by “nen-sei” (年生) or use regional variations where appropriate.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve now learned how to say “middle schooler” in Japanese. Remember to use “chūgakusei” (中学生) for formal situations, “chūsei” (中生) for informal occasions, and adapt to regional variations if necessary. With these phrases and tips in your pocket, you’ll be able to confidently talk about middle schoolers in Japanese. Keep practicing and enjoy your language-learning journey!