未成年(みせいねん)

みせいねん
noun
minor, underage person
1. minor, underage person
A person who has not yet reached the age of legal adulthood. In Japan, the age of majority was lowered from 20 to 18 in April 2022.
未成年(みせいねん)は飲酒(いんしゅ)できない。
Minors cannot drink alcohol.
未成年(みせいねん)の喫煙(きつえん)は法律(ほうりつ)で禁止(きんし)されている。
Smoking by minors is prohibited by law.
未成年(みせいねん)の子供(こども)が契約(けいやく)する場合(ばあい)は親(おや)の同意(どうい)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
When a minor enters a contract, parental consent is required.

USAGE:
Used both as a standalone noun and as a modifier: 未成年(みせいねん)の者(もの) (underage person). Japan lowered the age of majority from 20 to 18 in April 2022, but the minimum age for drinking and smoking remains 20.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 未成年(みせいねん)者(しゃ): minor (formal)
  • 未成年(みせいねん)飲酒(いんしゅ): underage drinking
  • 未成年(みせいねん)喫煙(きつえん): underage smoking
  • 未成年(みせいねん)犯罪(はんざい): juvenile crime

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 成人(せいじん): adult (antonym)
  • 成年(せいねん): adulthood, age of majority (antonym)

Related Words

Antonym: 成人(せいじん) (adult)
general
Added 2026.2.23 15:30
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