Japanese word

無用

Pronunciation

Romajimuyō

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveuseless

Example

この古い機械はもう無用なものです。ko no furu i ki kai wa mō mu yō na mo no de su

This old machine is useless now.

Illustration for 無用 (useless)

More examples

古い規則を守るのは無用です。furu i ki soku o mamo ru no wa mu yō de su

It is useless to follow the old rule.

Core concept

Describes something that lacks a useful purpose or effect, making it ineffective, futile, or unnecessary.

Common phrases

  • 無用の長物mu yō no chō butsu

    useless object

  • 無用な議論mu yō na gi ron

    pointless argument

Similar words

無駄muda: Failing to produce a useful result despite time, effort, or resources being used.
不要fuyō: Not needed for a particular purpose or situation.
無益mueki: Producing no benefit or helpful result.

Definition in Japanese

目的にかなう働きがなく、使っても効果がないこと。moku teki ni ka na u hatara ki ga na ku tsuka tte mo kō ka ga na i ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 無用 (muyō) is formed from 無 (mu, "none") and 用 (yō, "use"), so its literal structure points to uselessness.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses 無用 (muyō) in 無用な心配 (muyō na shinpai) for an unnecessary concern, showing that the word is not limited to things that fail to work.

Other meanings

  • futilena-adjective
  • unnecessaryna-adjective

Opposites

  • 有用yūyōusefulna-adjective

Related words

  • 無用性muyōseiuselessnessnoun

Word lists with this word