Languages › Japanese Wakai in Translation Share Flipboard Email Print Japanese Essential Japanese Vocabulary History & Culture Japanese Grammar By Namiko Abe Japanese Language Expert B.A., Kwansei Gakuin University Namiko Abe is a Japanese language teacher and translator, as well as a Japanese calligraphy expert. She has been a freelance writer for nearly 20 years. our editorial process Namiko Abe Updated January 27, 2019 The Japanese word wakai, pronounced "wah-kai", means "young", "younger", "inexperienced", "immature", or "green". Japanese Characters 若い (わかい) Example Miki wa itsu mitemo wakai.美樹はいつ見ても若い。 Miki always looks young. Chikagoro no wakai mono wa nani o kangaeteiru no ka wakaranai.近頃の若い者は何を考えているのかわからない。 I can't tell what young people these days are thinking. Notes "Wakai" is a Japanese adjective. Learn more about Japanese adjectives.