Japanese word

変

Pronunciation

Romajihen

Meaning

  • na-adjectivestrange

Example

これは変です。ko re wa hen de su

This is strange.

Illustration for 変 (strange)

More examples

この絵は変です。ko no e wa hen de su

This picture is strange.

駅で変な音を聞きました。eki de hen na oto o ki ki ma shi ta

I heard a strange sound at the station.

Core concept

Describes a person, thing, or situation that falls outside normal expectations and feels odd.

Common phrases

  • 変な人hen na hito

    strange person

  • 変な話hen na hanashi

    strange story

  • 変な音hen na oto

    strange sound

Similar words

妙myō: Describes something that feels odd because it does not fit usual expectations.
奇妙kimyō: Describes something strikingly unusual or strange in appearance or nature.
不思議fushigi: Describes something that cannot be easily understood and seems mysterious.

Definition in Japanese

一般的なものと違っていて、奇妙に感じられるさま。ip pan teki na mo no to chiga tte i te ki myō ni kan ji ra re ru sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 変 (hen, "change") extends from the idea of change to something that differs from the usual, giving it the meaning "strange".

Usage tips

  • The form 変な (hen na, "strange") modifies nouns, as in 変な話 (hen na hanashi, "a strange story"), while 変です (hen desu) ends a polite statement.

Opposites

Word lists with this word