🇬🇧🇨🇳 minor - 未成年人 : English Lesson

Meaning of "minor" ("未成年人"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

A minor is a person who is still considered a child or teenager by law and is not old enough to be treated as an adult. Minors usually cannot do certain things on their own, like sign important contracts, vote, or live alone without a grown-up’s permission. They are still protected and taken care of by adults, such as parents or guardians.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

The minor tried to be his own legal guardian, but his argument fell apart when he spilled juice on his “very serious” documents.

The roller-coaster attendant said, “You’re a minor, so you need an adult,” and the kid pointed at his grandpa and said, “I brought the deluxe model.”

The minor complained, “If I’m too young for serious responsibilities, why do I have to take out the trash?”

Because he was a minor, his idea of signing an important paper was adding twelve smiley faces and a doodle of a potato.

In many places a person is a minor until age 18, which means you legally have years of practice at being weird before the law calls you an adult.

The minor stood on the wet curb, clutching a small backpack. A second minor tugged a lost dog toward the road. A bus driver warned the minor with a whistle. The minor froze; a parent ran up and scooped the minor and the dog into safety. Everyone breathed out, the minor smiling into a warm hug.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.