Japanese word

なぞなぞ

Pronunciation

Romajinazonazo

Meaning

  • nounriddle

Example

子どもたちになぞなぞを出します。ko do mo ta chi ni na zo na zo o da shi ma su

I ask the children a riddle.

Illustration for なぞなぞ (riddle)

More examples

弟は難しいなぞなぞの答えをすぐに見つけました。otōto wa muzuka shi i na zo na zo no kota e o su gu ni mi tsu ke ma shi ta

My younger brother quickly found the answer to a difficult riddle.

Core concept

It turns a hidden answer into a playful challenge by giving clues in an indirect question.

Common phrases

  • なぞなぞの答えna zo na zo no kota e

    answer to a riddle

  • なぞなぞを解くna zo na zo o to ku

    solve a riddle

  • なぞなぞを出すna zo na zo o da su

    give a riddle

Similar words

謎nazo: A question or problem that hides its answer and invites people to work it out.
クイズkuizu: A question or set of questions that checks knowledge or asks for a quick answer.

Definition in Japanese

言葉の意味や特徴を手がかりにして答えを当てる、問いかけ形式の遊び。koto ba no i mi ya toku chō o te ga ka ri ni shi te kota e o a te ru to i ka ke kei shiki no aso bi

Word origin

なぞなぞ (nazonazo) repeats the native noun なぞ (nazo, "mystery"), creating a reduplicated word for a playful mystery or riddle.

Usage tips

  • Japanese なぞなぞ (nazonazo) often uses wordplay based on a word's sound or multiple meanings, so the answer can be funny rather than logically deduced.

Other meanings

  • puzzlenoun

Word lists with this word