大人

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 大人 is read as おとな and is a noun for an adult, a person who has grown beyond childhood.
• Basic usage: Becoming one appears in 大人になる, while seeking help appears in 近くの大人に相談する.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Spelling and reading
  • The word is read as the whole form おとな, rather than by simply combining the ordinary readings of its two kanji.
• Difference from 子ども
  • 子ども denotes a child, whereas 大人 denotes someone who has grown beyond childhood.