How to say "obscure" in Japanese

• 不明ふめいJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers the sense of 'obscure' as unclear or uncertain, typically of information, causes, or whereabouts that cannot be determined. Use it when something is unknown rather than merely vague.
• 漠然ばくぜんJLPT N1approx.Common
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Covers the sense of 'obscure' as vague or hazy, describing impressions, ideas, or fears that lack clear definition. It suggests a blurred outline rather than hidden or missing information.
• 不透明ふとうめいCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers the sense of 'obscure' as murky or opaque, applied to situations or prospects whose inner workings are hard to see through. Common with matters like the future or one's outlook.
• マイナーCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers the sense of 'obscure' as little-known or unimportant, describing people, works, or things that few people are aware of. Here 'obscure' is about low fame, not lack of clarity.
  まだまだマイナーだが、遠とおからず近隣きんりんに出荷しゅっかされるだろう。↗

  It's still minor league but in the not so distant future they'll be coming to a place near you.
• ぼかすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbThis is the verb sense, 'to obscure' or make ambiguous something deliberately or otherwise, as in blurring an image or softening a statement. Use it as an action, not to describe a state.

For unclear or uncertain information use 不明, for vague or hazy impressions use 漠然, for murky or hard-to-see-through situations use 不透明, for little-known things use 「マイナー」, and for the verb 'to obscure' use 「ぼかす」.

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

• 不明ふめいunclear
• 漠然ばくぜんvague
• 不透明ふとうめいopaque
• マイナーminor
• 曖昧模糊あいまいもこobscure
• 不分明ふぶんめいobscure
• 晦渋かいじゅうambiguous
• 不文明ふぶんめいindistinct
• 不明瞭ふめいりょうunclear
• 名もないなもないunknown
• 見づらいみづらいhard to see
• 漠ばくvague
• 見えづらいみえづらいhard to see
• 知られざるしられざるunknown
• 朦朧もうろうdim
• 模糊もこdim
• 曇らすくもらすto encloud
• ぼかすto obscure
• 無名むめいobscure
• 見にくいみにくいobscure
• 茫漠ぼうばくvague
• 漠々ばくばくvague