noun
boy; young boy
General term for a male child, typically from early school age up to adolescence. Often used in contrast with 少女 (girl).
公園で少年たちがサッカーをしていた。
Boys were playing soccer in the park.
あの少年はとても礼儀正しい。
That boy is very polite.
noun
Used especially in legal or formal contexts to refer to a person under the age of majority (typically under 18 or 20 in Japan).
少年法は二十歳未満の少年に適用される。
The Juvenile Act applies to minors under 20 years of age.