Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== bùliángshàonián: 不良少年 - Delinquent Youth, Bad Teenager, Juvenile Delinquent ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 不良少年, buliangshaonian, Chinese delinquent, bad teenager in Chinese, juvenile delinquent, rebellious youth in China, Chinese punk, what does buliang mean, what does shaonian mean, problem child. * **Summary:** "不良少年" (bùliáng shàonián) is the Chinese term for a "delinquent youth" or "bad teenager." It describes a young person, typically a boy, who defies social norms by skipping school, smoking, fighting, and disrespecting authority. More than just a "rebel," this term carries a strong cultural weight of disappointing one's family and failing in the highly-valued duty of being a good student. This concept is a common archetype in East Asian media, often portraying youths who are on a problematic path. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bù liáng shàonián * **Part of Speech:** Noun Phrase * **HSK Level:** N/A * **Concise Definition:** A young person, typically a teenager, who exhibits rebellious, antisocial, or delinquent behavior. * **In a Nutshell:** "不良少年" literally translates to "not-good youth." It's the standard term for a juvenile delinquent. The image it evokes is not necessarily a hardened criminal, but a stereotypical troublemaker: a student with dyed hair, who smokes, gets into fights, and cuts class. The core of the concept is a rejection of the high-pressure academic and social expectations placed on young people in Chinese society. It implies a sense of shame for the family and a deviation from the "correct" path. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **不 (bù):** A negative prefix, meaning "not" or "no." * **良 (liáng):** Means "good," "fine," or "virtuous." It often refers to a person's inherent character or quality. * **少 (shào):** Means "young" or "youth." (Note the tone is `shào` here, not the more common `shǎo` meaning "few"). * **年 (nián):** Means "year" or "age." The characters combine logically: **不良 (bùliáng)** means "not good," "bad," or "of poor quality." **少年 (shàonián)** means "youth" or "young person" (typically male, aged 12-18). Together, **不良少年 (bùliáng shàonián)** forms the direct and unambiguous phrase "not-good young person" or "bad-quality youth." ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, a young person's primary role is to study diligently, show filial piety (孝顺, xiàoshùn), and bring honor to their family, often culminating in success in the high-stakes college entrance exam (高考, gāokǎo). The "不良少年" is the antithesis of this ideal. * **Violation of Social Contract:** Their delinquency is not just a personal failing but a public one. It's seen as a rejection of their responsibilities to their family, their school, and society. The shame associated with being a "不良少年" is immense and extends to their parents. * **Comparison to the American "Rebel":** The American concept of a "rebel" or "bad boy" (think James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause") can be romanticized, viewed as a cool, anti-establishment figure who is charismatic and attractive. The Chinese "不良少年" is rarely seen this way. The label is almost universally negative, associated with failure, shame, and a lack of future prospects. While a character in a movie might be a "不良少年" with a heart of gold, in real life, the label is a serious indictment of one's character and upbringing. It's less about "coolness" and more about being a "social problem." ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **In Media:** The "不良少年" is a classic character archetype in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dramas, movies, and comics (manga/manhua). They often start as antagonists or troubled side characters who are eventually reformed through friendship, love, or a passion for something like sports (a classic example is Sakuragi Hanamichi from the anime *Slam Dunk*). * **In Conversation:** Parents and teachers use this term with a heavy, negative connotation to describe problematic students. It can be used seriously to discuss social issues ("The problem of 不良少年 is on the rise") or in a slightly exaggerated, half-joking way between parents: "My son does nothing but play video games all day, he's becoming a little 不良少年!" * **Connotation:** The connotation is strongly negative. It implies laziness, disrespect, a tendency towards violence, and a general disregard for the rules that hold society together. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 他上学时是个有名的**不良少年**，经常逃课打架。 * Pinyin: Tā shàngxué shí shì ge yǒumíng de **bùliáng shàonián**, jīngcháng táokè dǎjià. * English: He was a well-known delinquent youth when he was in school, often skipping class and fighting. * Analysis: This is a classic, direct description of the behavior associated with a "不良少年." * **Example 2:** * 父母很担心他会跟那些**不良少年**学坏。 * Pinyin: Fùmǔ hěn dānxīn tā huì gēn nàxiē **bùliáng shàonián** xué huài. * English: His parents are very worried he will learn bad habits from those delinquents. * Analysis: This shows the term from a parent's perspective, highlighting the fear of negative social influence. * **Example 3:** * 很多电影里的**不良少年**角色，内心其实很善良。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō diànyǐng lǐ de **bùliáng shàonián** juésè, nèixīn qíshí hěn shànliáng. * English: Many "delinquent youth" characters in movies are actually very kind-hearted deep down. * Analysis: This points to the common media trope of the "bad boy with a heart of gold." * **Example 4:** * 自从加入了篮球队，他改变了很多，不再是那个**不良少年**了。 * Pinyin: Zìcóng jiārù le lánqiúduì, tā gǎibiàn le hěn duō, búzài shì nàge **bùliáng shàonián** le. * English: Since joining the basketball team, he has changed a lot and is no longer that delinquent youth. * Analysis: This sentence illustrates a common redemption arc for such a character. * **Example 5:** * 老师把那几个**不良少年**叫到办公室进行了严厉的批评。 * Pinyin: Lǎoshī bǎ nà jǐ ge **bùliáng shàonián** jiào dào bàngōngshì jìnxíng le yánlì de pīpíng. * English: The teacher called those few delinquent youths to the office and gave them a stern criticism. * Analysis: This demonstrates the term's usage in a formal school setting. * **Example 6:** * 社会应该更多地关注**不良少年**的心理健康问题。 * Pinyin: Shèhuì yīnggāi gèng duō de guānzhù **bùliáng shàonián** de xīnlǐ jiànkāng wèntí. * English: Society should pay more attention to the mental health problems of juvenile delinquents. * Analysis: Here, the term is used in a more formal, sociological context. * **Example 7:** * 他染了一头黄发，学着**不良少年**的样子，其实胆子很小。 * Pinyin: Tā rǎn le yì tóu huáng fà, xué zhe **bùliáng shàonián** de yàngzi, qíshí dǎnzi hěn xiǎo. * English: He dyed his hair blond, trying to look like a delinquent, but he's actually very timid. * Analysis: This shows that "不良少年" is also associated with a specific look or style, not just behavior. * **Example 8:** * 别整天跟你的那些**不良少年**朋友混在一起！ * Pinyin: Bié zhěngtiān gēn nǐ de nàxiē **bùliáng shàonián** péngyou hùn zài yìqǐ! * English: Stop hanging out with those delinquent friends of yours all day! * Analysis: A typical parental command, showing the negative association with the peer group. * **Example 9:** * 他不是真正的**不良少年**，只是有点叛逆而已。 * Pinyin: Tā bú shì zhēnzhèng de **bùliáng shàonián**, zhǐshì yǒudiǎn pànnì éryǐ. * English: He's not a real delinquent, he's just a bit rebellious. * Analysis: This sentence draws a distinction between the serious label and the general behavior of being rebellious (叛逆, pànnì). * **Example 10:** * 如何预防青少年成为**不良少年**是教育者面临的一个挑战。 * Pinyin: Rúhé yùfáng qīngshàonián chéngwéi **bùliáng shàonián** shì jiàoyùzhě miànlín de yí ge tiǎozhàn. * English: How to prevent teenagers from becoming delinquents is a challenge faced by educators. * Analysis: This uses the term in the context of prevention and education policy. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Not Just Any "Bad Kid":** A common mistake is to use "不良少年" for any child who misbehaves. A five-year-old having a tantrum is a "淘气 (táoqì)" (naughty) kid, not a "不良少年." This term is specifically for adolescents and implies a pattern of antisocial behavior like truancy, smoking, and fighting. * **"Bad Boy" vs. "不良少年":** Be careful not to equate this with the English "bad boy." In English, "bad boy" can imply a rugged, attractive, and charismatic man. "不良少年" has none of these positive or romantic connotations. It's a label of shame and failure. A girl's father would be horrified to hear she is dating a "不良少年." * **Age-Specific Term:** This term is strictly for youths ("少年"). For an adult hooligan or gangster, you would use a more serious term like `[[流氓]] (liúmáng)` or `[[小混混]] (xiǎo hùnhun)`. Calling a 30-year-old criminal a "不良少年" would sound strange and incorrect. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[太妹]] (tàimèi) - The female equivalent of a "不良少年." A "bad girl," "delinquent girl," or "gangster girl." * [[小混混]] (xiǎo hùnhun) - "Little hoodlum" or "punk." This term emphasizes loafing on the streets and being involved in petty crime, often in a group. It strongly overlaps with "不良少年." * [[叛逆]] (pànnì) - (adj./noun) Rebellious; rebellion. This describes the core characteristic or behavior of a "不良少年." * [[问题少年]] (wèntí shàonián) - "Problem youth." This is a slightly more clinical or formal term that suggests underlying psychological or family issues. * [[流氓]] (liúmáng) - "Hooligan," "rogue," "gangster." A much stronger term, often used for adults. A "不良少年" is on the path to becoming a "流氓." * [[学渣]] (xuézhā) - "Study dregs" or "slacker student." This refers specifically to academic failure. Almost all "不良少年" are considered "学渣," but not all "学渣" are delinquents. * [[不务正业]] (bú wù zhèngyè) - A chengyu (idiom) meaning "to not attend to one's proper business/duties." This perfectly encapsulates the central failure of a "不良少年" in the eyes of society.