未成年（みせいねん、miseinen）
- minor

The Japanese word 未成年 (みせいねん - miseinen) refers to a person who is under the age of majority, meaning someone who has not yet reached adulthood as defined by Japanese law. This typically means someone under the age of 20 in Japan. However, there are exceptions and situations where the legal age can differ slightly depending on the specific context, such as for marriage or certain types of contracts. 未成年 signifies that the individual is subject to special legal protections and limitations.

⚫︎ 彼は未成年ですが、とても賢いです。 Translation: He is a minor, but he is very intelligent. ⚫︎ 未成年者の飲酒は法律で禁止されています。 Translation: Drinking alcohol is prohibited by law for minors. ⚫︎ 未成年保護のため、夜間外出は制限されています。 Translation: Curfew is imposed to protect minors.

This word is used in a variety of contexts, including legal documents, news reports, and everyday conversations. It's used to describe a person's status relative to the age of majority, highlighting their legal rights and responsibilities. The word is often used in situations where legal restrictions or protections apply.

未成年 is written in kanji, with the hiragana reading "みせいねん". ⚫︎ The kanji are: ⚫︎ 未 (mi): not yet, un- ⚫︎ 成 (sei): become, grow up ⚫︎ 年 (nen): year ⚫︎ There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana (hiragana attached to kanji) is not applicable in this case.

There aren't many direct synonyms, but words related to the age of minority can be considered similar. ⚫︎ 未成年者 (みせいねんしゃ - miseinensha): "minor," a person who is 未成年. ⚫︎ 子供 (こども - kodomo): "child," a more general term for someone young, though not strictly legal terminology.

The antonym of 未成年 would be a word indicating adulthood. ⚫︎ 成年 (せいねん - seinen): "adult," a person who has reached the age of majority. ⚫︎ 大人 (おとな - otona): "adult," a more general term for an adult.

この映画は未成年には不適切です。 ・Translation: This movie is inappropriate for minors. ・Explanation: This sentence indicates that the film has content not suitable for 未成年 audiences.

未成年は親権者の同意なしに契約できません。 ・Translation: Minors cannot enter into contracts without the consent of their parents or guardians. ・Explanation: This highlights a legal restriction imposed on 未成年s concerning contractual agreements.

The etymology of 未成年 is straightforward. It is formed by combining the kanji for "not yet" (未), "become/grow up" (成), and "year" (年). Together, these kanji convey the meaning of "not yet having become an adult" or "underage."