expression, noun, adverb
one's youth; one's younger days
Refers to the period when one was young; often used in reminiscence or to contrast with the present. Can function as a noun or adverbially.
若い頃はよく旅行したものだ。
I used to travel a lot when I was young.
若い頃の経験が今の仕事に役立っている。
The experiences from my youth are useful in my current job.
若い is an adjective meaning 'young'; 若い頃 is a noun/adverbial phrase meaning 'when one was young' or 'one's youth'.
青春 refers more abstractly to the springtime of life or youthful spirit, while 若い頃 is a concrete reference to the time when one was young.
Compound of 若い (young) and 頃 (time, period).