Meaning

Primary

Adult

Alternative

Mature

Word Type

noun, な adjective, の adjective

Explanation

This word combines big and person. If you're a child, how do you think of adults? You just think of them like big people. That's why this combination of kanji means adult, and when used like an adjective, it means mature.

Reading

おとな
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Sometimes kanji have exceptional readings that are neither on’yomi, nor kun’yomi, and this is one of them. So here’s a mnemonic to help you remember this reading:

"I'm an adult, which means I have adult responsibilities, like… oh, toner (おとな)!" Are you an adult with your own toner printer? Ohhhh, toner…

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 大人になりたい

    want to become an adult, want to become mature

    大人になる

    become an adult, become mature

Context Sentences

大人のチケット下さい。

A ticket for an adult, please.

PG-18は大人のためのコンテンツです。

PG-18 is content for adults.

わたしは「大人の女」をテーマにしたファッションマガジンのモデルです。

I am a model for a fashion magazine that caters to "mature women."

Kanji Composition