Chinese word

未成年

Pronunciation

Pinyinwèi chéng nián

Meaning

  • nounminor

Example

她是未成年，不能独自入住酒店。tā shì wèi chéng nián bù néng dú zì rù zhù jiǔ diàn

She is a minor and cannot check into a hotel alone.

Illustration for 未成年 (minor)

More examples

在很多国家，未成年不能喝酒。zài hěn duō guó jiā wèi chéng nián bù néng hē jiǔ

In many countries, minors cannot drink alcohol.

Core concept

A person classified by age as not yet belonging to the adult group, especially when adult rights or duties apply.

Common phrases

  • 是未成年shì wèi chéng nián

    be a minor

  • 被认定为未成年bèi rèn dìng wéi wèi chéng nián

    be deemed a minor

Similar words

未成年人wèi chéng nián rén: An individual who is legally below the age of adulthood.
青少年qīng shào nián: A young person in the stage between childhood and adulthood, often linked with school life.
儿童ér tóng: A small child in early childhood or the first years of primary school.
成年人chéng nián rén: A person old enough to be legally or socially treated as an adult.

Definition in Chinese

尚未达到成年年龄的人，强调年龄尚未达到法律或社会认定的成年门槛。shàng wèi dá dào chéng nián nián líng de rén qiáng diào nián líng shàng wèi dá dào fǎ lǜ huò shè huì rèn dìng de chéng nián mén kǎn

Word origin

The literal formation 未成年 (wèichéngnián, "not yet an adult") places 未 (wèi, "not yet") before 成年 (chéngnián, "reach adulthood"), directly marking a person who has not crossed the adult-age line.

Usage tips

  • The noun is common in practical rules and eligibility statements, so its tone is usually factual and administrative rather than insulting or childish.

Opposites

  • 成年人chéng nián rénadultnoun

Related words

  • 未成年者wèi chéng nián zhěminornoun

Word lists with this word