Japanese Conversation · Level 131
60 words
Japanese word
有無
Pronunciation
Romajiumu
Meaning
- nounpresence or absence
Example
参加の有無を今日中に知らせてください。san ka no u mu o kon nichi chū ni shi ra se te ku da sa i
Please let us know whether you will attend by today.
More examples
このサービスは、地域によって提供の有無が異なります。ko no sā bi su wa chi iki ni yo tte tei kyō no u mu ga koto na ri ma su
Whether this service is available varies by region.
Core concept
Treats the existence of something as an either-or matter that includes the possibility of its absence.
Common phrases
参加の有無san ka no u mu
whether someone will attend
有無を問わずu mu o to wa zu
regardless of whether something is present
有無を確認するu mu o kaku nin su ru
check for the presence or absence
有無を記入するu mu o ki nyū su ru
indicate whether something is present
有無を知らせるu mu o shi ra se ru
report whether something is present
Similar words
有り無しarinashi: A plain expression for whether something is present or absent.
存否sonpi: Whether something exists or does not exist, often in a formal context.
Definition in Japanese
物事が存在することと存在しないことのいずれであるか。mono goto ga son zai su ru ko to to son zai shi na i ko to no i zu re de a ru ka
Word origin
有無 (umu) is formed from the Sino-Japanese readings of 有 (u, "exist") and 無 (mu, "not exist"), whose contrast gives the word its meaning.
Usage tips
- 有無 (umu) is useful for understanding concise formal questions, but its tone is often stiffer than the wording used in ordinary conversation.