How to say "meaningless" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 無意味むいみna-adjective, nounThe common, neutral choice: it states flatly that something has no meaning or is nonsense, as in dismissing an argument or plan as nonsense.だが俺はお前のとって永遠に無意味なまま。↗But for you I'll always be insignificant.
- 無意義むいぎna-adjective, nounA less common near-synonym of 無意味: it states that something lacks meaning or significance. For most purposes 無意味 is the safer choice, and this word is seldom the one you need.
- 由なきよしなきpre-noun adjectivalIt can mean 'meaningless', but its distinctive senses are 'senseless' and 'absurd' — an act or remark that makes no sense; being less common, it is seldom the word you want for plain 'meaningless'.
- 意味ないいみないi-adjectiveMatches 'meaningless' in its 'pointless' sense: an action or effort that serves no purpose. Use it when you want to say simply that doing something would be pointless.
- expression, i-adjectiveReally a word for calling something stupid or worthless; 'meaningless' is only one of its senses, so it is seldom the precise choice for plain 'meaningless'. Normally written in kana.
Use 無意味 as the default for something with no meaning, 「意味ない」 for the 'pointless' sense, 無意義 as a less common near-synonym, 「由なき」 for 'senseless, absurd', and 「しょうもない」 for dismissive 'stupid, worthless' judgments.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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