Minors are individuals legally recognized as not yet adults, requiring protection and having limited legal rights.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Legal term for individuals under 18.
- Requires special protection and has limited legal capacity.
- Used in law, education, and social contexts.
Overview
“未成年人”是一个法律和社会概念，用来指代那些尚未达到法定成年年龄的个体。在中国，根据《中华人民共和国民法典》，未满十八周岁的人被视为未成年人。这个年龄界限是国际上普遍采用的标准之一。未成年人在法律上被视为需要特殊保护的群体，他们的权益受到法律的特别关注和保障。同时，由于心智尚未完全成熟，他们在法律行为能力上受到一定限制。
“未成年人”一词主要用于法律、教育、社会工作和新闻报道等领域。在日常生活中，人们也可能用它来指代青少年或孩子，尤其是在讨论与他们相关的法律、政策或社会问题时。例如，在谈论未成年人保护法、未成年人犯罪、未成年人教育等话题时，都会频繁使用这个词。
心理健康：关注未成年人的心理发展和可能面临的心理问题。
“儿童”通常指年龄更小的未成年人，一般指从出生到十二岁左右的个体。虽然儿童也是未成年人，但“未成年人”包含了儿童和青少年两个阶段。
“少年”一般指十二岁到十八岁之间的未成年人，介于儿童和成年之间。它比“儿童”年龄大，但仍属于“未成年人”的范畴。
“青少年”是一个更广泛的社会学概念，通常指从青春期开始到成年之前的个体，年龄范围可能比“未成年人”略大或重叠，侧重于身心发展的特定阶段。而“未成年人”是一个严格的法律概念，以法定年龄为界。
Examples
学校必须保护未成年人的合法权益。
everydaySchools must protect the legal rights and interests of minors.
根据《中华人民共和国刑法》，已满十二周岁不满十四周岁的人，犯故意杀人、故意伤害罪，致人死亡或者严重残疾，情节恶劣的，经最高人民检察院核准追诉的，应当负刑事责任。但因不满十六周岁不予刑事处罚的，责令其父母或者其他监护人严加管教；在必要时，政府也可以采取专门矫治教育措施。对于已满十四周岁不满十八周岁的未成年人犯罪，应当从轻或者减轻处罚。
legalAccording to the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, individuals who have reached the age of 12 but not yet 14, and commit intentional homicide or intentional injury resulting in death or severe disability, with egregious circumstances, and upon approval for prosecution by the Supreme People's Procuratorate, shall bear criminal responsibility. However, if not criminally punished due to being under 16, their parents or other guardians shall be ordered to strictly discipline them; when necessary, the government may also take special correctional education measures. For minors who have reached the age of 14 but not yet 18 and commit crimes, the punishment shall be reduced or commuted.
这是一家禁止未成年人进入的酒吧。
informalThis is a bar that prohibits minors from entering.
研究表明，早期社会化对未成年人的价值观形成具有深远影响。
academicResearch indicates that early socialization has a profound impact on the value formation of minors.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
未成年人保护
Protection of minors
未成年人犯罪率
Juvenile crime rate
关爱未成年人
Care for minors
Often Confused With
'未成年人' is a strict legal term defined by age (under 18). '青少年' (qīngshàonián) is a broader socio-cultural term referring to adolescents, covering the period of puberty and beyond, focusing on developmental stage rather than a precise legal cutoff.
'未成年人' is the overarching legal category for anyone under 18. '儿童' (értóng) typically refers to younger children, usually up to age 12, and is a subset of '未成年人'.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The term '未成年人' is primarily used in formal and legal contexts. While it can be understood in everyday conversation, using more specific terms like '孩子' (child) or '年轻人' (young people) might be more common depending on the situation. In legal documents and official discussions, '未成年人' is the precise and required term.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using '未成年人' too broadly when a more specific term like '儿童' or '少年' would be appropriate, or vice versa, assuming '青少年' is always equivalent to '未成年人'. It's important to remember the legal definition versus the developmental stage.
Tips
Understand Legal Age Limits
Remember that '未成年人' specifically refers to the legal definition of being under the age of majority, which is 18 in China.
Avoid Generalizing Age Groups
While '未成年人' includes children and teenagers, avoid using it interchangeably with '儿童' (child) or '少年' (teenager) in contexts where the specific legal definition is important.
Focus on Protection
Chinese law and society place a strong emphasis on protecting the rights and well-being of minors, reflecting a cultural value of safeguarding the young.
Word Origin
The term '未成年人' is a direct translation of the concept of 'minor' or 'underage person' into Chinese. '未' (wèi) means 'not yet', '成' (chéng) means 'to become' or 'to complete', '年' (nián) means 'year' (age), and '人' (rén) means 'person'. Thus, it literally means 'person who has not yet reached the age of adulthood'.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on respecting elders and protecting the young. Laws and social norms surrounding '未成年人' reflect this value, aiming to provide a safe and nurturing environment for their growth and development.
Memory Tip
Think of '未' (not yet) + '成年' (adult) + '人' (person). So, 'not yet adult person', which directly relates to the legal status of being underage.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions在中国，根据《中华人民共和国民法典》，未满十八周岁的人被视为未成年人。这是判断一个人是否为未成年人的法律标准。
未成年人在法律上被视为需要特殊保护的群体。他们享有受教育权、健康权等基本权利，但在某些法律行为上，如签订合同、从事某些职业等，需要法定代理人（如父母）的同意或代理。
“未成年人”是一个法律概念，指未满十八周岁的人。而“青少年”是一个更广泛的社会学概念，通常指青春期到成年前的个体，年龄范围可能与未成年人重叠但侧重点不同。
这是因为未成年人心智尚未完全成熟，自我保护能力较弱，容易受到侵害。法律通过特别规定来保障他们的身心健康发展，维护他们的合法权益。
Test Yourself
根据法律规定，______需要特别的保护。
句子讨论的是需要特别保护的群体，根据定义，未成年人是法律规定的需要特殊保护的群体。
在中国，哪一年龄以下的个体被定义为未成年人？
中国法律明确规定，未满十八周岁的人为未成年人。
请选择最能体现“未成年人”法律特征的句子。
这句话直接指出了未成年人在法律上的责任能力限制，这是其法律身份的重要体现。
Score: /3
Summary
Minors are individuals legally recognized as not yet adults, requiring protection and having limited legal rights.
- Legal term for individuals under 18.
- Requires special protection and has limited legal capacity.
- Used in law, education, and social contexts.
Understand Legal Age Limits
Remember that '未成年人' specifically refers to the legal definition of being under the age of majority, which is 18 in China.
Avoid Generalizing Age Groups
While '未成年人' includes children and teenagers, avoid using it interchangeably with '儿童' (child) or '少年' (teenager) in contexts where the specific legal definition is important.
Focus on Protection
Chinese law and society place a strong emphasis on protecting the rights and well-being of minors, reflecting a cultural value of safeguarding the young.
Examples
4 of 4学校必须保护未成年人的合法权益。
Schools must protect the legal rights and interests of minors.
根据《中华人民共和国刑法》，已满十二周岁不满十四周岁的人，犯故意杀人、故意伤害罪，致人死亡或者严重残疾，情节恶劣的，经最高人民检察院核准追诉的，应当负刑事责任。但因不满十六周岁不予刑事处罚的，责令其父母或者其他监护人严加管教；在必要时，政府也可以采取专门矫治教育措施。对于已满十四周岁不满十八周岁的未成年人犯罪，应当从轻或者减轻处罚。
According to the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, individuals who have reached the age of 12 but not yet 14, and commit intentional homicide or intentional injury resulting in death or severe disability, with egregious circumstances, and upon approval for prosecution by the Supreme People's Procuratorate, shall bear criminal responsibility. However, if not criminally punished due to being under 16, their parents or other guardians shall be ordered to strictly discipline them; when necessary, the government may also take special correctional education measures. For minors who have reached the age of 14 but not yet 18 and commit crimes, the punishment shall be reduced or commuted.
这是一家禁止未成年人进入的酒吧。
This is a bar that prohibits minors from entering.
研究表明，早期社会化对未成年人的价值观形成具有深远影响。
Research indicates that early socialization has a profound impact on the value formation of minors.
