Meaning and Usage
"成年" refers to the legal age of adulthood, when a person is recognized as an adult with full legal rights and responsibilities. In Japan, this age has traditionally been 20 years old, though recent legal changes have lowered it to 18 in some contexts.
Common Contexts
You will often see "成年" used in legal, governmental, and social contexts, such as voting rights, contracts, and guardianship laws. For example, "成年になる" means "to become an adult," and "成年後見制度" refers to the adult guardianship system.
Collocations and Patterns
- 成年になる: to reach adulthood
- 成年年齢: age of majority
- 成年後見制度: adult guardianship system
Usage Notes
When using "成年," it usually implies the legal recognition of adulthood rather than just physical maturity. Learners should not confuse "成年" with "青年" (せいねん), which means "youth" or "young person." The two words have different kanji and meanings despite similar readings.
"成年" is a formal term often used in official documents and formal speech rather than casual conversation.