未み満まん

み

ま

ん

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

Used as a suffix after a number or quantity to mean 'less than that amount', not including the stated number. Often contrasted with 以下 (or less, including the number). Can also be used as a noun or adverb.

18歳じゅう未満はっさいみまんの方かたはご利り用よういただけません。

Those under 18 years of age cannot use this service.

参さん加か者しゃは10人にん未み満まんだった。

There were fewer than 10 participants.

この商しょう品ひんは1000円えん未み満まんで買かえます。

You can buy this item for less than 1000 yen.

Usage patterns

〈数すう〉未み満まんless than [number]
18歳じゅう未満はっさいみまんはこの映えい画がを見みることができません。
People under 18 cannot watch this movie.
〈数すう〉未み満まんの〈人ひと〉a person under [number]
5歳さい未み満まんの子こ供どもは無む料りょうです。
Children under 5 are free.

Expressions

恋こい人びと未み満まんmore than friends, less than lovers
友とも達だち以い上じょう恋こい人びと未み満まんmore than friends, less than lovers

Kanji

未un-, not yet, hitherto
満full, fullness, enough

Opposites

以い上じょうN4
未満 means 'less than' a number (excluding it), while 以上 means 'that number or more' (including it), making them opposite ends of a range.

Don't confuse with

以い下かN4
未満 excludes the stated number (18歳未満 means younger than 18), while 以下 includes it (18歳以下 means 18 or younger).
以い内ないN4
以内 includes the stated limit itself (e.g. 10以内 can equal 10), whereas 未満 strictly excludes it (10未満 means less than 10, not 10 itself).
以い上じょうN4
以上 includes the stated number itself ('18歳以上' means 18 and up), whereas 未満 strictly excludes it ('18歳未満' means under 18), so learners often mix up which side of the line each word falls on.

Word family

歳さい未み満まん
under ... years of age; less than ... years old

Etymology

Compound of 未 (mi, 'not yet') and 満 (man, 'full; sufficient'). The literal meaning is 'not yet reaching the full amount', which developed into the modern sense of 'less than'.