迷子

• Reading: まいご
• Romaji: maigo
• Kanji breakdown: 迷 (mei/mayou) — lost, confused; 子 (shi/ko) — child
• Pronunciation: /ma.i.ɡo/

Meaning

Lost child; a child who has wandered away and cannot find their way back.

A compound noun of 迷 (lost/confused) and 子 (child). While literally meaning a lost child, it is also used casually for adults who have gotten lost: 迷子になる (maigo ni naru, to get lost). Common in shopping centres, amusement parks, and public facilities: 迷子センター (maigo-sentā, lost child centre). Used both literally and humorously.

Examples

1. デパートで迷子になった子供が泣いていた。 A lost child was crying in the department store.
2. 知らない街で迷子になってしまった。 I ended up getting lost in an unfamiliar town.
3. 迷子のお知らせが館内放送で流れた。 An announcement about a lost child came over the PA system.

Usage Guide

Context: public places, family, daily life

Tone: concerned

Origin & History

Compound of 迷 (mei/mayou, to be lost/confused) and 子 (go/ko, child). The combination directly describes a child who has lost their way.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal