Japanese word

不思議

Pronunciation

Romajifushigi

Meaning

  • na-adjectivemysterious

Example

これは不思議な話です。ko re wa fu shi gi na hanashi de su

This is a mysterious story.

Illustration for 不思議 (mysterious)

More examples

どうして鳥が話せるのか、不思議に思います。dō shi te tori ga hana se ru no ka fu shi gi ni omo i ma su

I wonder how the bird can talk.

Core concept

Describes something that does not fit ordinary expectations and therefore feels difficult to explain.

Common phrases

  • 不思議に思うfu shi gi ni omo u

    wonder

  • 不思議な話fu shi gi na hanashi

    a mysterious story

  • 不思議なことfu shi gi na ko to

    something mysterious

Similar words

奇妙kimyō: Describes something unusual or odd in a way that is difficult to explain.
変hen: Describes something that seems strange or not normal in everyday life.

Definition in Japanese

常識では説明しにくく、なぜそうなるのか理解できないさま。jō shiki de wa setsu mei shi ni ku ku na ze sō na ru no ka ri kai de ki na i sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese term 不思議 (fushigi) combines 不 (fu, "not"), 思 (shi, "think"), and 議 (gi, "discuss"), naming what lies beyond ordinary thought and explanation.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 不思議な (fushigi na) can describe something pleasantly astonishing as well as something puzzling, so it may translate as amazing in a positive context.

Other meanings

  • strangena-adjective
  • amazingna-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 不思議がるfushigigaruwonderverb

Word lists with this word