未成年人

• Pinyin: wèi chéng nián rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 未 (not yet); 成 = 戊 + 丁 (become, complete); 年 = 禾 + 千 (year); 人 (person)

Meaning

Minor; juvenile. A person who has not yet reached the legal age of adulthood, defined as under 18 years old in China.

A legal and social term used in child protection laws, court proceedings, education policy, and media regulation. The 未成年人保护法 (Law on Protection of Minors) governs the rights and protections of this group in China.

Examples

1. 该网站明确标注不适合未成年人浏览。 The website clearly states that it is not suitable for minors to view.
2. 法律规定，未成年人犯罪应由专门法庭处理。 The law stipulates that crimes committed by minors should be handled by a specialized court.
3. 保护未成年人的合法权益是全社会的共同责任。 Protecting the legal rights and interests of minors is a shared responsibility of the whole society.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, education, social policy

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 出售烟酒给未成年人属于违法行为，商家须严格核查年龄。(Selling tobacco or alcohol to minors is illegal; merchants must rigorously verify age.)
• 学校有责任为未成年人提供安全的学习和成长环境。(Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe learning and development environment for minors.)

Don't Say

• 那个未成年人已经成年了 — this is contradictory; once a person turns 18, say 已成年 or use 成年人 (adult) instead

Origin & History

未 (not yet) + 成年 (come of age, adult) + 人 (person)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal