Japanese Conversation · Level 46
90 words
Japanese word
無理
Pronunciation
Romajimuri
Meaning
- na-adjectiveimpossible
Example
それは無理です。so re wa mu ri de su
That is impossible.
More examples
この条件では、その計画は無理です。ko no jō ken de wa so no kei kaku wa mu ri de su
Under these conditions, that plan is impossible.
Core concept
Describes a task or request that exceeds what circumstances allow or what reason permits.
Common phrases
無理なお願いmu ri na o nega i
an unreasonable request
無理な計画mu ri na kei kaku
an unrealistic plan
Similar words
不可能fukanō: Describes an action or result that is not possible under the stated conditions.
困難konnan: Describes something that is not easy to accomplish but is not ruled out completely.
無茶mucha: Describes a plan, request, or action that is too unreasonable to carry out sensibly.
Definition in Japanese
事情や能力から見て実行できず、筋道にも反するさま。ji jō ya nō ryoku ka ra mi te jik kō de ki zu suji michi ni mo han su ru sa ma
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese compound 無理 (muri) consists of 無 (mu, "without") and 理 (ri, "reason"), so it describes what lacks a reasonable or possible basis.
Usage tips
- Japanese speakers often use 無理 (muri) as a direct conversational response to reject a request, even when the request is merely difficult rather than strictly impossible.
Other meanings
- unreasonablena-adjective
Opposites
- 可能kanōpossiblena-adjective