teen
teen — adjective
1. connected with people who are between thirteen and nineteen years old, especiall
connected with people who are between thirteen and nineteen years old, especially describing things made for them or things that relate to their lives and interests.
Xiu borrowed a stack of teen magazines from the library.
collocation: teen magazines / teen readers
The school started a support group for teen parents who need help with childcare.
collocation: teen parents
Élise spent most of her teen years painting and writing short stories.
A popular teen drama about high school friends started its third season.
Roya found her first job at a clothing shop that sold teen fashion.
- teenage
the more standard adjective; 'teenage' sounds less informal and is preferred in formal writing
- adolescent
more clinical or formal register; often used in psychology or medicine contexts
文法句型
teen + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only: this adjective always appears before a noun (e.g., teen idol, teen drama). It is not used after a linking verb — say 'She is a teen' (noun) or 'She is a teenage girl' (adjective), not 'She is teen'.
常見錯誤
teen — noun
1. a young person whose age is between thirteen and nineteen years old.
a young person whose age is between thirteen and nineteen years old.
Rachid started playing classical guitar when he was a teen.
collocation: as a teen / when + was a teen
The summer camp is open to teens aged fourteen through seventeen.
collocation: teens aged [range]
Tamar saved her allowance every week like many teens do.
Kevin earned extra money after school by tutoring younger teens in math.
Darius and Ishaan have been close friends since they were teens.
- teenager
the more standard and neutral term; preferred in most contexts
- adolescent
more formal or technical term, often used in developmental psychology and medicine
- youth
broader range covering teenagers and young adults; can sound more formal or idealistic
文法句型
a teen
the teens
in one's teens
用法筆記
Countable noun. Plural 'teens' is very common, especially when referring to the age range (e.g., 'a girl in her early teens'). 'Teen' is more informal than 'teenager' — in formal writing, 'teenager' or 'adolescent' is usually preferred.