Japanese Conversation · Level 128
60 words
Japanese word
妙
Pronunciation
Romajimyō
Meaning
- na-adjectivestrange
Example
それは妙な話です。so re wa myō na hanashi de su
That is a strange story.
More examples
その店は昼なのに妙に静かでした。so no mise wa hiru na no ni myō ni shizu ka de shi ta
The shop was strangely quiet even though it was daytime.
Core concept
Describes something that departs from what is usual and therefore feels puzzling or out of place.
Common phrases
妙な人myō na hito
a strange person
妙な音myō na oto
a strange sound
妙に静かmyō ni shizu ka
strangely quiet
Similar words
変hen: Describes something that is noticeably different from what is normal, often in a broad or casual way.
不思議fushigi: Describes something puzzling that cannot be easily explained by ordinary expectations.
奇妙kimyō: Describes something that is unusual in a distinctly peculiar way.
Definition in Japanese
普通とは違い、不自然さや不思議さを感じさせるさま。fu tsū to wa chiga i fu shi zen sa ya fu shi gi sa o kan ji sa se ru sa ma
Word origin
妙 (myō, "subtle") is a Sino-Japanese word using the on'yomi reading myō of the Chinese character 妙, whose established senses include subtle, fine, and unusual.
Usage tips
- In everyday Japanese, 妙に (myō ni) often means "oddly" or "unusually," describing something that feels different without explaining why.