1.
unripe; not yet mature
Describes fruit or crops that have not fully ripened.
未熟な果実。
Unripe fruit.
まだ未熟なトマトは食べない方がいい。
It's better not to eat tomatoes that aren't ripe yet.
この品種は未熟な状態で収穫されることが多い。
This variety is often harvested while still unripe.
2.
immature; inexperienced; unskilled
Describes a person whose skills, knowledge, or character are not yet fully developed.
まだまだ未熟です。
I'm still very inexperienced.
未熟な医者に手術されたくない。
I don't want to be operated on by an unskilled doctor.
技術が未熟なうちは失敗も多いが、経験を積めば上達する。
While your skills are still undeveloped there will be many mistakes, but with experience you'll improve.
Composed of 未 (not yet) + 熟 (ripe/mature). The word connects the literal sense of unripeness with the figurative sense of human immaturity. Sense 2 is far more common in everyday usage.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 未熟な技術: undeveloped skill
- 未熟な判断: immature judgment
- 未熟な者: inexperienced person
- まだまだ未熟: still very inexperienced (humble self-description)
USAGE:
When used about oneself, it functions as a humble expression acknowledging one's lack of skill. まだまだ未熟です is a common phrase used when receiving praise.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 未経験: inexperienced — focuses on lack of experience rather than lack of skill development
- 若い: young — can imply inexperience but without the negative skill connotation
- 半人前: half-baked, not yet fully trained — implies being halfway to competence
- 熟練: skilled, experienced — the opposite of 未熟