bùliángshàonián: 不良少年 - Delinquent Youth, Bad Teenager, Juvenile Delinquent

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.”

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.”

• 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 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.

• 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.

• 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.