未満

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 未満 is read as みまん and is a quantity expression meaning less than or under a stated threshold, excluding the threshold itself.
• Basic usage: A height threshold appears in 百二十センチ未満, while a duration appears in 一時間未満.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Threshold excluded
  • 百二十センチ未満 covers heights below 120 centimeters, so a height of exactly 120 centimeters is not included.
• Difference from 以下
  • 以下 includes the stated limit and everything below it, while 未満 covers only values below the limit.