Japanese Conversation · Level 57
75 words
Japanese word
意味不明
Pronunciation
Romajiimifumei
Meaning
- na-adjectivemakes no sense
Example
その話は意味不明です。so no hanashi wa i mi fu mei de su
That story makes no sense.
More examples
文脈がないと、その短いメッセージは意味不明です。bun myaku ga na i to so no mijika i me ssē ji wa i mi fu mei de su
Without context, that short message makes no sense.
Core concept
Describes something whose meaning or intention cannot be understood clearly.
Common phrases
意味不明な発言i mi fu mei na hatsu gen
a nonsensical remark
意味不明な指示i mi fu mei na shi ji
an unclear instruction
Similar words
不可解fukakai: Describes something difficult to understand or explain because its meaning or reason is unclear.
支離滅裂shirimetsuretsu: Describes speech, writing, or behavior that lacks a clear connection between its parts.
ちんぷんかんぷんchinpunkanpun: Describes speech or writing that is completely impossible to understand.
Definition in Japanese
意味や意図が理解できず、内容がはっきりしないさま。i mi ya i to ga ri kai de ki zu nai yō ga ha kki ri shi na i sa ma
Word origin
The compound 意味不明 (imifumei) joins 意味 (imi, "meaning") and 不明 (fumei, "unclear"), describing something that lacks a clear meaning.
Usage tips
- In casual Japanese, 意味不明 (imifumei) can describe a statement or action that seems nonsensical, not merely information that is temporarily unknown.
Other meanings
- unclearna-adjective
- crypticna-adjective
Opposites
- 明快meikaiclearna-adjective
Related words
- 意味不明さimifumeisaunintelligibilitynoun