How to say "enigma" in Japanese

• 謎なぞJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe default word for an enigma: something or someone inexplicable, a mystery that resists explanation. It also covers riddles and puzzles, so context decides, but for the ordinary sense of 'enigma' this is the word.
  このなぞの答こたえを考かんがえつきますか。↗

  Can you guess this riddle?
• なぞなぞJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounReally the word for a riddle as a playful question-and-answer puzzle. Despite the gloss 'enigma', it is seldom what you want for a mysterious person or unsolved mystery; for those, use 謎.
  「もしおまえが私のなぞなぞ答こたえられたら、私はおまえを無事ぶじに通とおしてやる」とスフィンクスは言いった。↗

  "I will let you pass safely," the Sphinx said, "if you can answer my riddle."
• 七不思議ななふしぎCommon
  nounA jocular, humorous term for a total mystery or conundrum, playfully framing unexplained oddities as a set of wonders. Not a neutral word for an enigma; keep it to lighthearted talk.

Use 謎 for the ordinary sense of an enigma or mystery; 「なぞなぞ」 only for riddles as question-and-answer puzzles; 七不思議 is a jocular way to call something a total mystery.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 謎なぞriddle
• なぞなぞriddle
• エニグマenigma
• 七不思議ななふしぎtotal mystery
• 鵺ぬえmysterious person