1.
lost child
A child who has become separated from their parents or guardians.
2.
lost person, someone who is lost
By extension, anyone who has lost their way (often used playfully for adults).
It's embarrassing to get lost even though I was looking at a map.
Playful adult usage
While literally referring to children, often used humorously for adults who are lost.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 迷子になる (to get lost)
- 迷子センター (lost child center)
- 迷子のお知らせ (lost child announcement)
- 迷子札 (lost child tag - worn by children at events)
RELATED EXPRESSIONS:
NOTE:
The kanji 迷 means "to be lost/confused" and 子 means "child."