How to say "peculiar" in Japanese

• 変へんJLPT N4approx.Common
  na-adjectiveThe 'strange, odd, weird' sense: something is off or not as it should be. Typical when a noise, a taste, or someone's behavior simply strikes you as weird.
  そのオレンジは後味あとあじが変へんだった。↗

  The orange left a strange taste in my mouth.
• 特殊とくしゅJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveThe 'special, particular, unique' sense: something is of a distinctive kind that sets it apart from the ordinary, rather than odd in itself. Typical with special circumstances, cases, or equipment.
• 奇妙きみょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounAlso the 'strange, odd' sense, but with a puzzling, uncanny flavor: the thing seems bizarre or inexplicable rather than merely off. Typical for a strange dream, an odd shape, or queer behavior.
  これはとても奇妙きみょうな手紙てがみです。↗

  This is a very strange letter.
• 特有とくゆうJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveThe 'peculiar to' sense: a trait characteristic of a particular person, group, or place, as in a habit peculiar to someone or a flavor peculiar to a region; the trait is typical of it.
  この習慣しゅうかんは日本にっぽんに特有とくゆうのものである。↗

  This custom is peculiar to Japan.
• 固有こゆうJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveAlso 'peculiar to', but stresses that the trait is inherent in or exclusive to that thing; it also covers the 'endemic' sense. Where 特有 says 'typical of', 固有 says 'belonging essentially to'.
  羽はねは鳥とりに固有こゆうのものだ。↗

  Feathers are peculiar to birds.

変 and 奇妙 cover the 'strange, odd' sense, 奇妙 adding a puzzling, uncanny flavor; 特殊 covers 'special, particular, unique'; for 'peculiar to' choose 特有 or 固有 — characteristic versus inherent.

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

• 変へんstrange
• 特殊とくしゅspecial
• 奇妙きみょうstrange
• 特有とくゆうcharacteristic (of)
• 固有こゆうcharacteristic (of)
• 異様いようstrange
• 特異とくいunique
• 独自どくじoriginal
• 風変わりふうがわりstrange
• 奇異きいodd
• 変わったかわったunusual
• 一種独特いっしゅどくとくunique
• 異ないなstrange
• へんてこりんstrange
• へんちくりんstrange
• 一風変わったいっぷうかわったeccentric
• 一種異様いっしゅいようeccentric
• 一流いちりゅうcharacteristic (of)
• 珍ちんstrange
• おかしいstrange
• おかしなstrange